Thursday Morning: 07 Mar 2019 – John 20:11-23 ~ “I have seen the Lord!”

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 20:11-23 (NLT)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

“Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
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Morning Reflection:

Every Sunday at our church, we profess our faith using the words of the Nicene Creed. In part, we say this about Jesus –

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end….

The Nicene Creed is a theological formulation of Biblical truth, but how does that play out for believers in practical terms? Jesus’ encounter with Mary and the disciples provide us with examples –

Jesus turns our sorrow’s into joy-filled hope.

+ Crucified Jesus had compassion on Mary in her disappointment and misreading of her present circumstances. But his revealed presence with her turned her sorrow into joy.

+ Risen Jesus identified with Mary’s sorrow over the atrocities visited on Jesus by the evil one. But his risen presence demonstrated his victory over death, turning her sorrow into joy.

+ Ascended Jesus transformed Mary’s mourning over the loss of a loved one into a joy-filled messenger of eternal life. Jesus’ impending ascension guaranteed her place with him in eternity.

Jesus sends us out in the power of the Holy Spirit.

+ King Jesus transformed shuttered, fearful followers into Spirit-filled, messengers of the Kingdom of God – convicting the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (John 16:8)

Throughout today’s reading, God’s sovereignty is evident in Jesus’ resurrection appearances. No matter how disappointing, or evil, or hopeless the circumstances may appear, God is in control and Jesus is with us through it all.

Questions for consideration:

Can you think of time of disappointment or confusion in your life when you were comforted by knowing Jesus was with you? Please explain.
Do you believe that God is in control, even though our world is filled with evil people doing evil things. Please explain.
Do you see yourself as a citizen and ambassador of the Kingdom of God? How does the Holy Spirit assist you in this? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Meet us in our sorrow and grief, our confusion and despair. Give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we might bear witness to the reality of your resurrection. Empower us with your Spirit to proclaim the good news that, no matter how impossible our circumstances may appear, you are still in control, and in the end – you win. All for your glory. Amen.
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“I Have Seen the Lord” – John Finch – #VIGIL

Early in the morning as I journeyed to the tomb, There was no where else to go With eyes full of tears, When He spoke my name, we were standing face to face

I have seen the Lord, I have seen the Lord He’s No longer dead, He is risen! I have seen the Lord, I have seen the Lord He’s No longer dead, He is risen up again!

For many days I’ve followed, These eyes have seen Him die, and These eyes have seen Him rise

He cast away my sin by the saving grace of God It is Christ who changed my life

I have seen My eyes have seen The glory of our God
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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Ash Wednesday: 06 Mar 2019 – Isaiah 57:15-21, Mark 2:13-22 ~ healer of sin-sick souls

Ash Wednesday

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Ash Wednesday)

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create in me a new spirit and contrite heart, that I – worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness – may obtain of you – the God of all mercy – perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ my Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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First Reading – Isaiah 57:15-21 (NLT)

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this:

“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry.

“If I were, all people would pass away—all the souls I have made. I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way.

“I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.

“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.
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Second Reading – Mark 2:13-22(NLT)

Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

A Discussion about Fasting

Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”

Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”
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Prayer of Confession:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have not loved as You have called us to love. We have been impatient and unkind. We have been jealous, boastful and proud. We have responded rudely to others and often lived for ourselves alone. Our anger has come quickly while our desire for the best for others has been hard to find. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. In Your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be: that we may love as You first loved us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Physician of My Sin-Sick Soul” (John Newton) – Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 05 Mar 2019 – John 19:38-20:10 ~ he saw and believed

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 19:38-20:10 (NLT)

The Burial of Jesus

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
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Morning Reflection:

“Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in,
and he saw and believed — for until then they still hadn’t understood
the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.” – John 20:8-9

Why is the resurrection of Jesus central to our faith?

+ The resurrection of Jesus assures us of his God-sent person and mission.
+ The resurrection of Jesus assures us that our sins are forgiven.
+ The resurrection of Jesus assures us that the Holy Spirit is given to us.
+ The resurrection of Jesus assures us of eternal life through faith in him.

“If our hope in Christ is only for this life,
we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.
He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:19–20

Questions for consideration:

• What practical effect does Jesus’ resurrection have on your faith?
Please explain.
• What practical effect does Jesus’ resurrection have on your priorities?
Please explain.
• How can Jesus’ resurrection console those who have lost loved ones?
Please explain.
• How can Jesus’ resurrection encourage those who are disheartened?
Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: by Selwyn Hughes

Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice and rejoice continually in Your glorious and triumphant victory over death. For Your victory is my victory. Help me to live by it, in it, and for it. I am grateful to my depths – grateful forever. Amen.
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“Because He Lives” ( Amen ) – Matt Maher

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Monday Morning: 04 Mar 2019 – John 19:17-37 ~ “It is finished!”

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 19:17-37 (NLT)

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.”
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Morning Reflection:

“It is finished!” – John 19:30

Jesus paid in full the penalty for my sin – past, present and future.

+ Everything that contributes to my salvation is found in Christ. (John Calvin)

Nothing else can make atonement for my sins.
Nothing else can appease the wrath of God for my sins.
Nothing else can obtain justification for my sins.

+ My salvation has been sealed by the precious blood of the Son of God. (John Calvin)

Questions for consideration:

In light of Jesus’ words “It is finished!” – what role, if any, does penance (or reparations) have in reconciling you to God? Please explain.
How do you reconcile the wrath of God with the love of God? Please explain.
If you were to die today and stand before God, and He asked you: “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would you say? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. Help me to trust Him completely as my Savior and follow Him faithfully as my Lord. Guide my life and empower me with your Spirit to do your will. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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“In Christ Alone” – Stewart Townend

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday Morning: 02 Mar 2019 – John 19:1-16 ~ I find him not guilty.

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 19:1-16 (NLT)

Jesus Sentenced to Death

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”

When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”

The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”

“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”

“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus away.
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Morning Reflection:

Pilate went outside again and said to the people,
“I am going to bring him out to you now,
but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” – John 19:4

Then why did Pilate yield to the mob and allow Jesus to be beaten, humiliated, and crucified? Why did Pilate allow his integrity to be compromised? Why did Pilate act counter to his conviction that Jesus was innocent?

+ Pilate allowed expediency to override his convictions of right and wrong. He had the secular power and authority to do the right thing. But in the end, he didn’t want to be bothered – he went along to get along, bringing shame on himself and losing his soul.

+ Pilate allowed fear to override his convictions of right and wrong. Everyone has a boss, and Pilate was no different – his boss was Caesar. When the religious leaders threatened to report him for coddling a threat to Caesar’s authority – he was afraid of ending up in Jesus’ place before Caesar.

+ Pilate allowed a mob to override his convictions of right and wrong. The crowd was wrong and Pilate knew it. But he allowed the mob’s clamor to sway him. It was a collective voice inflamed by passion, worked upon by wicked and crafty leaders; it was the voice of Satan.

Pilate chose wrong over right; no washing of hands could absolve him from this miscarriage of justice.

Questions for consideration:

Can you think of a time when expediency, fear, or popular opinion influenced you to do the wrong thing? Please explain.
Are expediency, fear, or popular opinion influencing an impending decision facing you now? What is the right thing to do? What will it cost you? Please explain.
How can you employ the Word of God, the Spirit of truth, and the power of faith, hope, love, duty, sacrifice, and prayer to enable you to do what’s right? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Forgive me for adding to your suffering by succumbing to expediency, fear, and popular opinion. Cleanse my heart, change my thinking, and shape my will that I might live with integrity and a clear conscience, following the path you have set before, and bring honor to your name. Amen.
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“O God, Do Thou Sustain Me” – ‘Anabaptist Martyr Hymns’