Tag: Jesus

Daily Word

John 19

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Read John 19 – You are going to want to look away, but don’t.  You are going to want to read this lightly the way one does when the characters seem foreign, read it twice, maybe three times.  Read it until you are able to see your own need for a Savior.  Read it until you see how far you are from worthy to be in the presence of our Holy God. 

Are you a “good person”?  Read it again.  Pilate tried to be a “good person”.  He knew Jesus was innocent so he thought maybe a scourging would satisfy the angry, blood thirsty crowd…. It was his weak and deranged compromise. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, surrendered his life to the cruelest abuses man can conceive.  Why were they so cruel – a crown of thorns, slapping Jesus, who swung the whip that tore his flesh?  When one person is cruel, it is very bad, yet when a frenzy of cruelty erupts, it is inhumane.

Jesus was innocent.  He bore my sins on that cross.  He bore your sins on that cross.  Feel the magnitude of it.  “It is finished.”  :30  Jesus paid our atoning sacrifice.  It was more than we can afford – our sin deems us unworthy.  It was more than we deserve.  “Yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

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John 18

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Read John 18 – Did it stir emotions up for you?  I mean, John 17 was so warm, and John 18, which occurred just a few minutes later, shows us Jesus’s arrest.  I do love the comparison between the two “I am’s” in vs. :5-:8.  The first time Jesus refers to himself as such, the band of soldiers, officers of the chief priests and Pharisees who came to arrest him, armed with lanterns, torches and weapons, fell down.  Tough guys aren’t so tough in the face of our divine Jesus.  The second time, Jesus says it they did not fall down.  Jesus was in control the whole time.  The first time, they were reminded of Gods power, the second time, Jesus showed his restrained power and protection of his men… asking that they be let go. Next, Peter takes his sword and slices off Malchus’s ear (in Luke 22:51 it says Jesus healed him on the spot).  Jesus gets bounced around in the legal system a bit… accusing an innocent man leaves a lot of blood on ones hands and it seems no one was eager to sentence Jesus.  Peter denies knowing Jesus – fulfilling the prophecy Jesus declared in John 13:38.  So much happened it one night.  Beloved, as you read this, be aware that none if this was a surprise to Jesus and he surrendered himself for my sin and yours.  What an incredible Savior we have!

Daily Word

John 17

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Read John 17 – My heart is overflowing with gratitude!  Sweet Jesus!  Mighty Jesus!  John 17 is his prayer to our Holy Father. 

Think about it, without Jesus, humans would try really hard.  They would define god for themselves and decide what was “good” and “bad”.  In Proverbs 16:25 we are told, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  Yet, praise God for Jesus!  He fulfilled his earthly mission and plainly says: “And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” 

Verse :6 rang especially sweet in my ears, “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world.  They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” 

THEY WERE ALWAYS YOURS…. Beloved, you were always Gods.  You just had to realize it!  This wonderful truth comes with the joyful responsibility to reflect Jesus every day.  Jesus’s prayer for you is that you experience such perfect unity that the world will know that God sent Jesus and that He loves you as much as He loves Jesus(:23).  Now, go, shine brightly, Beloved.💖💝💖😍💖💝💖

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John 16

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Read John 16 – It’s going to get bad with good reason; keep the faith. 

Jesus front-loads his disciples, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.” 16:1.  You will get kicked out of church.  You may be killed. I am leaving you.  The Holy Spirit is coming… Those are some BIG details! 

Jesus gives a bottom line on sin too in vs :9.  Sin is not believing in Jesus.  Think about it, every lie, every indulgence (fornication, food, drugs, alcohol, shopping, pride or self-depreciation, ect.), every pursuit of malice, and any other sin boils down to not believing in Jesus, and putting the things of this world ahead of worshipping Him.  Jesus says, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.” :12…. Oh my! 

Beloved, we also know as much as we can handle.  Jesus did die and was resurrected.  Jesus is coming back in judgement and only those clothed in Him will enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Keep the faith; keep your peace.  Jesus says:  “I have told you all of this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” :33✌🌎☝❤☝🌏✌

Daily Word

John 15

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Read John 15 – My Grandpa was a master pruner.  When he was finished, I would actually feel sorry for the poor trees.  They looked so naked with exposed stumps for limbs.  Yet come spring, vibrant fruit, apricots, peaches, plums, would appear. 

When the Lord prunes ones life, it can feel like amputation; it can hurt.  Yet there is redemptive purpose to every cut the Lord allows.  Jesus tells us to remain in him and we will bear much fruit(:5).  Jesus tells us these things so we will be filled with HIS joy, JOY that overflows(:11)! 

Beloved, will you trust Jesus when the painful trials come?  Will you lean into his love and look for this overflowing joy?  The world will come against you because it hated Jesus first(:18).  Don’t be surprised, hold fast to Jesus and lead your life with love.💞🌳🍇📖🍉🌳💕

Daily Word

Read John 14

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Read John 14 – The way. The truth.  The life.  – Those are such pure and powerful words, and John 14 has an abundance of them.

Jesus gives such a peaceful picture of eternity in these Scriptures.  You may recognize them from memorial services, but why wait for a moment of grief to set your mind on heaven(14:1-4)? 

And Jesus also gives hope for today – we will do works like Jesus, and He will give us what we ask for in his name(:12-14).  In verse :16 the apostles (and eventually us) learn about the Holy Spirit,  the Advocate who will help us and be with us forever.

Later, a great question is asked: why doesn’t everyone know Jesus?   It is a tragedy that some people chose disobedience over love (:22-24). 

Beloved, imagine how mind blowing it must have been to keep up with all Jesus was explaining!  That’s one reason the Holy Spirit is so essential to believers (:26).  Let’s hold on to verse 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.   I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled,  and do not be afraid.”🕊

Daily Word

John 13

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Read John 13 – This is hard stuff.   Even Jesus was troubled over this (:21). 

Remember all those times Jesus was in a crowd of people who wanted to arrest or stone him,  and he simply left?   Those divine escapes happened because his time had not yet come.   Here in Chapter 13, it’s time (:1). 

Jesus first washes his disciples feet and commands them to follow his example and wash one another’s feet (:14).  I think this is more significant than we can comprehend this side of heaven,  but on a human level, we should always be serving one another and making those around us clean, just as Jesus has done for us. The wheels are in motion for Judas to betray Jesus.   Satan enters him… remember Judas was prone to sin…. skimming money off the top (John 12:4-6)?  Yet this,  oh Judas,  was a line crossed that he was unable to uncross.  Jesus tells him, “What you are about to do,  do quickly.”(:27) 

Beloved,  as you read, try imagining yourself as the characters. Personalize it so you can grow a little closer to how much Jesus loves you and how worthy he is of your praise. 🙌💝🙌

Daily Word

John 12

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Read John 12 – Moments of eternal significance – we often miss them.  There are words and events that linger for years, yet in the moment they seem simply ordinary or even odd.  Mary washed Jesus’ feet with perfume and her own hair; Jesus knew the significance of this while the others missed it entirely.  Judas only saw his own ill gotten gain being wasted (12:1-8). 

We can look with hindsight at Jesus’ triumphant entry in to Jerusalem, when the people lined the streets with palms and shouted, “Hosanna in the hightest!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (12:12-15).  Notice that even the disciples missed the significance of this moment, :16.  

We get another moment of MAGNITUDE in vs :28-30… God spoke from heaven and the people heard it, yet many dismissed it as simple thunder. 

Beloved, pray your heart would be prepared and tuned in to the divine!  Jesus says, “Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.  Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light,” :35b-36.  God is at work all around you. ✋👀👂💖👂👀✋

Daily Word

John 11

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Read John 11 – Life is eternal.   You may think you know the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but read it again…. There are things to pick up on that go far beyond the basic story. Jesus knows exactly how he will reveal God’s glory from the moment he receives word that his friend is sick(12:1-15).  He returns to find his sweet Mary and Martha brokenhearted with grief. Look deeply at how beautiful Martha’s faith is, despite her sorrow(12:20-27). Her faith is pure,  but Jesus is about to do something so WONDERFUL and far beyond her imagination. Read :33.  Jesus knows he is about to resurrect Lazarus, yet still he is angry and deeply troubled! We were not designed to die; it is a concession to keep humanity from escalating in sin eternally. The reality of death is very sad, yet beyond that,  we are eternal, which is great news for believers as Martha said.  JESUS WEPT (:35)… Incredible, right?  Jesus understands our sorrow, and he will turn our mourning to dancing (Psalm 30:11)… and Lazarus walked out of the grave.🙏😭💃☝🕺😢🙏

Daily Word

John 9

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Read John 9 – Sabbath. Sight. Sin. 

I was in Israel a few years ago and saw firsthand how the Sabbath is honored.  No work is to be done on the Sabbath, and I was staying in a highrise hotel.  One elevator was designated Shabbat.  It would stop on every floor automatically and all lights remained off.  The premise is that pushing an elevator button and using light would be “work” and not rest…. Even though the elevator is now working twice as hard.  To this western girl, it seemed like a double standard.

 Jesus is not into double standards.  He healed the blind man on the Sabbath, and frustrated the religious leaders once again.  Afterwards, they overheard Jesus speaking to the healed man.  “I entered this world to render judgment – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” :39  “Are you saying we are blind?” :40 they asked Jesus.  He gives an answer that should have made them question everything about themselves. 

Beloved, may you have eyes that see beyond man-made rules, so you are free to love God and your neighbor in the way that glorifies your Heavenly Father.