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

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 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:

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

The 8th Sunday of Epiphany – 03 Mar 2019 – Luke 9:28-36 ~ Listen to him.

Eighth Sunday of Epiphany

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

Opening Prayer

O God, who on a mountain revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son,
wonderfully transfigured, glorious and in dazzling white: Grant that we, being delivered from the anxiety of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“What A Beautiful Name” – Hillsong Worship

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Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36 (NLT)

The Transfiguration

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
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Prayers of Intercession:

Heavenly Father: You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to show us how to live and love. We confess we have not listened to him – we have not loved you with all our heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Please forgive us, and by the power of your Spirit help us –

+ Show patience and kindness, especially to the difficult people in our lives.
+ Show humility and gentleness, considering the needs of others first.
+ Show cheerfulness and grace, even when we have been wronged.
+ Show gladness of heart, when truth wins over falsehood.
+ Show perseverance and faith, when obstacles seem insurmountable.
+ Show hope and endurance, in the face of heartache and suffering.

Heavenly Father: You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to show us how to live and love. And, he voluntarily laid down his life so that we could be made right with you. Thank you for your forgiveness, and set us again on the path of life and love he has laid out for us. For his name’s sake. Amen.
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“You’re Beautiful” – Phil Wickham

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Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and 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’

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Closing:

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

Friday Morning: 01 Mar 2019 – John 18:19-40 ~ What is truth?

Friday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 18:19-40 (NLT)

The High Priest Questions Jesus

Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.

Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”

“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

“Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.)

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus Embodied the Truth –

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6a).

But Pilate couldn’t see it; Truth stared him in the face and he looked away, preferring the philosophical rabbit trail of relativism. So Pilate asks: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

Why is this important to us? Because Western society has followed Pilate down that same rabbit trail to nowhere.

What is truth? – “Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God.” (John MacArthur) – Jesus, then, is the embodiment of Truth.

In Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question about Kingship, several points stand out –

+ Truth is the foundation of the Kingdom of God. (14:6a)
+ The Kingdom of God is spiritual in nature. (18:36)
+ Kingdom battles are waged in our hearts. (18:36)
+ Jesus embodied Truth in his preaching, teaching and healing. (18:37b)
+ Loving Truth is the litmus test for loving and following Jesus. (18:37b)

Questions for consideration:

Is Truth an important value to you? How does your relationship with Jesus affect your understanding of Truth? Please explain.
Can you think of an example Truth, that conflicts with the false witness of relativism? How does that affect your life? Please explain.
Can you identify an area in your life where the spiritual battle between Truth and falsehood is being waged? Please explain.
What action can you take to testify to the Truth, by submitting your life to Christ? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Fill me with your Spirit and lead me into all Truth as taught and lived by Jesus. Overcome the false witnesses of this world that attempt to divert me away from your Kingdom values. And keep me focused on Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life – that I may enter into your Presence, and serve you faithfully as a citizen of your Kingdom. I ask this through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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“The Way” (New Horizon) – Pat Barrett

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 28 Feb 2019 – John 18:1-18 ~ the anatomy of failure

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 18:1-18 (NLT)

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

“I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”

Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Jesus at the High Priest’s House

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

Peter’s First Denial

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”

“No,” he said, “I am not.”

Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.
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Morning Reflection:

The Anatomy of Failure

Peter’s denial of Jesus is legendary – and provides us a window into our own feckless souls – our failures under fire. What set Peter up for failure? Here are four things to consider –

+ Failure to understand that God’s ways were NOT his ways – Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah sent from God, but he couldn’t accept Jesus’ death – he didn’t understand the full implications of his confession. And neither do we, for that matter. No matter how long we live as believers there will always be the element of surprise – when God acts in ways counter to our understanding or expectations. Be prepared.

+ Failure to recognize his own weakness – Jesus warned Peter of his impending denial, but Peter still didn’t see it coming. He was confident in his faith and commitment to Jesus, and so it is with us. We get blindsided, even though we’ve been warned and should have seen it coming. Our strength is drawn from remaining in (abiding in, living in) Jesus, not from ourselves. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

+ Failure to recognize that he was engaged in a spiritual battle – The betrayal and arrest of Jesus was the beginning of his fight to the death with “the rulers and authorities of the unseen world, the mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12), not simply with the flesh and blood religious and civil leaders of the time. They were simply following the leading of their Father, the devil. The Apostle Paul explains how to defend ourselves – pray (Ephesians 6:18) – put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

+ Failure to fear God more than he feared people – When Peter was confronted as a follower of Jesus, his instinctive response was denial and self-preservation – “Not me!” He panicked because he was afraid for his own life, after he seeing what was happening to Jesus. But in so doing, he lost sight of the big picture – his standing in eternity was sacrificed for self-preservation in the moment.

For your consideration:

We all fail spiritually at one time or another. What personal, spiritual failures stand out in your memory? What set them up? Please explain.
How have you resolved your failures before God? Confession, reconciliation, restitution? Is there anything else that needs to be done? Please explain.
Which of the failure items listed above speak directly to the challenges you are currently facing? What do you need to do now? Please explain.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all wickedness. – 1 John 1:8-9

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Morning Prayer:

Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
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“Forgiven” – Crowder