Friday April 29

"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

John 12:23-28

God might have seemed foolish to think he could save the whole world through one person. Jesus seemed equally insane when he spent the majority of his life in obscurity, then in ministry devoted his time to twelve, but mostly with three. How could he possibly think that his message would reach the ends of the earth? Well, he did think it would. And it has. It's because God understands numbers. He invented them. All those rules of math - he invented them to. He knew that one seed could change the world. Things multiply.

So don't worry about the one little thing you have. Give it to Jesus. Plant it in him.

Remember you are part of the proof that God knew what he was doing when he placed every hope of the world in a single person.

Thursday April 28

"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

John 12:23-28

My friend Mickey used to quote this verse to me all the time. He'd say Ned, if you want to live, you got to die. He meant that there is more life to be had than the life that was right here in front of me. And that life to be had was better and it came through dying. Dying's a steep price, you say. Well, how valuable do you think life is?

Wednesday April 27

"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

John 12:23-28

It gets even crazier. But this is Jesus' response to the Greek who had come to see him. Do you think they got what they expected? I don't think so. Before we try to dissect what Jesus says, it is important to remember that God doesn't always give us what we expect. We need to remember this also when reading Scripture. It is often the unexpected things that Scripture says that ends up being what we need to be paying attention to.

Now, there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

John 12:20-22

I told you we'd get to the shocking stuff Jesus says, but first, one more thing to note. Philip tells Andrew. They both tell Jesus. I don't know why Philip goes to Andrew first. But I love that Andrew, at least, has learned by now, that Jesus is approachable. We do not need to go through someone. We can go straight to him. Philip in fact learns this lesson. Later, in John 14, Philip does exactly that. He goes right to Jesus and says these amazing words: "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus says, "Don't you know me, Philip? ... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!"

Monday April 25

Now, there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

John 12:20-22

This is the desire of all men and women. They would like to see Jesus. This is what we must do as Christians. This is our premier calling...to show the world Jesus.

Jesus' response is shocking to say the least. We'll look at it this week. But first, let's simply say along with these Greeks who came to Philip: sir, we would like to see Jesus. And now, let's watch with expectancy and see what happens.

Friday April 22

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:5-8

When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus...

I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth...Psalm 121:1-2

Where are you looking, friend?

Lift your eyes...come and see...

...the Lord will watch your coming and going both now and forevermore...Psalm 121:8

Thursday April 21

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:5-8

Take these words told to the disciples to heart. Three commands for you to hear:

Listen to him!

Get up!

Don't be afraid!

Wednesday April 20

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:5-8

I was reading this text again this morning, and I never noticed this before: God doesn't address Jesus. He addresses the disciples. It reminded me: With God, I need no conduit. He can and does speak to me directly. May I, like the disciples, find that posture to receive the what He is saying to me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday April 19

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:5-8

I love that God the Father affirmed the Son before others. It is one thing to be affirmed alone. It is another to be affirmed before others.

How has God been affirming you? Don't be afraid to ask him for his affirmation. He likes to show you his love. Yes, it is one of his favorite things to do.

Monday April 18

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with destruction.

their throat is an open grave;

with their tongue thy speak deceit.

Declare them guilty O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:9-12

O Lord let me not be led into mistruth. May the words that come forth from my mouth be true. May my ears as they hear, may they hear with truth. May my heart constrain me to the truth. May my mind not tempt me to speak falsehood, that there would be no falsehood in me. That when I proclaim your goodness, Lord, that my words can be trusted. That my life would bear witness to the words I say: the Lord is good! His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. He loves you. He loves you. You can believe it.

Friday April 15

Waffle House Part 2

You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;

with you the wicked cannot dwell.

the arrogant cannot stand in your presence;

you hate all who do wrong.

You destroy those who tell lies;

bloodthirsty and deceitful men

the Lord abhors.

But I, by your mercy,

will come into your house;

in reverence will I bow down

toward you holy temple.

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies -

make straight your way before me.

Psalm 5

O Lord, the path seems crooked. I fail to see the way to walk. Move me therefore not by sight, but by faith. Step by step. One foot before the other into the darkness into your light. The path is straight when it is taken a step at a time. I step into you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thursday April 14

Prayed this at Waffle House at 3am (Part 1)

Give ear to my words, O Lord,

consider my sighing.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.

Psalm 5

Teach me, Lord, the way to wait for all life is waiting and I want to live. Teach me to learn the art of expectation. My expectations so often lead to disappointment. I want to my expectation to lead to faith, to hope, to love. Amen

Wednesday April 13

I was told this last week. I'm still learning what it means:

In every stick you hold there's a serpent. So you got to throw it down. Then you got to pick it up by the tail.

Tuesday April 12

Isaiah 53

7. He was oppressed and afflicted

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Monday April 11

Isaiah 53

7. He was oppressed and afflicted

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

Luke 23:9-11

Herod plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. the chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

Friday April 8

Isaiah 53

5. But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace

was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

Thursday April 7

Isaiah 53

5. But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace

was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

Mark 15:25

It was the third hour when they crucified him.

John 19:31-34

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a speak, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

Wednesday April 6

Isaiah 53

3. He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4. Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

Mark 15:16-20

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (thais is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. they put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, the King of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. They they led him out to crucify him.

John 19:17-18

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). here they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Tuesday February 5

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Mark 15:6-14

Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. the crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

"Crucify him!" they shouted.

"Why? What crime has he committed?"

But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

Monday February 4

Sorry about last week. I was in Philly and was having difficulty finding time to get away to the computer. I'll be on it like lint this week.

I was brought to this passage once again this morning. It's so poignant as we head toward Passover and Easter. Let's look at it this week together.

Isaiah 53

3. He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4. Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5. But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace

was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

6. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

7. He was oppressed and afflicted

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away

and who can speak of his descendants?

for he was cut off from the land of the living

for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

9. He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with the rich in his death,

though he had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him

and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

11. After the suffering of his soul

he will see the light of life and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous

servant will justify many,

and he will bear their iniquities.

12. Therefore, I will give him a portion

among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.