Friday | Week 14
When looking into the biblical accounts of Jesus’ life, it is vital to try and gain a fresh perspective. From His miraculous birth in a feeding trough to His humiliating death on a criminal’s cross, over time the narratives can become so familiar that the spark isn’t always there. Take the Gospel of John, chapter eighteen for example. Jesus was arrested, taken before the Jewish leaders, denied by one of his closest friends, and presented to the Roman governor, Pilate, for sentencing. The Jews saw an obvious violation leading to Jesus’ conviction to death. We know this to be the case.
Read More
Thursday | Week 14
I vividly remember the first time I really heard this story. I remember where I was sitting, and I remember the person who communicated it. I was a junior in high school. I had grown up in a solid Christian home and knew some of the general facts about the story, but when I understood what happened and how it happened, it was stunning.
Read More
Wednesday | Week 14
Accounts from John, chapters 18 and 19, strike me as deeply personal experiences for each character. The use of personal pronouns and rhythmic repetition show how the actions affect each character as witnessed in their responses. It’s those responses that provide an opportunity for us to meditate on our approach to identifying ourselves as Christ-followers.
Read More
Tuesday | Week 14
You know the end of this familiar story (perhaps so familiar, it’s “old news”). But look at the individual events in Jesus’ march toward the end with fresh eyes today. Read it through 2-3 times, praying for God to give you new insight as you watch Jesus in each scene. What do you learn about Jesus: His character and His purpose? Do you see any repeated phrases that reveal DEEP Truth? Keep your eyes on Jesus and what makes you love Him more?
Read More
Monday | Week 14
Tragedy. One after another. These two chapters of John’s Gospel begin with the arrest of Jesus and end with the burial of His body in a tomb. In between, we have Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the crowd demanding Barabbas be released rather than Jesus. We read of Jesus carrying His own cross to the place He would be crucified, between two criminals. This short period of time is often known as The Passion.
Read More
