John_20

Scripture

John 20:3-6

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there…

 

Observation

A lot goes down in this chapter, so here’s the main highlights to know:

• Mary Magdalene comes to Jesus’ tomb to pay her respects, but sees that the stone is rolled away
• She tells some of the disciples that Jesus’ body has been moved, and they go look for themselves
• Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene, and tells her to go and tell the others
• He then appears to His disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit
• He pays a visit to Thomas to make him believe
• John tells us that this is the reason that this book was written, to help others believe that Jesus is the Messiah

 

Understanding

So I used to pass over this part of the story because I wanted to get to “the good stuff.” That is, Jesus appearing to HIs close friends and followers, and showing them that He’s not dead and all that jazz. But upon reading these verses today I had to stop. For a couple reasons… One: I’m really competitive and could identify with this race to the grave. Two: the other disciple stops just before the reason he was running. I know that I am about to take these verses out of context, but I think the disciples offer a really important lesson to learn.

Don’t stop at the entrance of your destination because you are too afraid to go inside.

Think about it. The other disciple could have been the first to see that Jesus wasn’t there. Not just the stone rolled away, not just the linens, the whole body: gone. Instead he stops and Peter rushes in. Now I don’t know what was going through the other disciple’s head. I don’t know if he was nervous that he might find Jesus’ body or he was worried about the smell. Regardless, this guy missed out!

I think that’s where most of us find ourselves right now though. God is calling for us to go deeper. And at the beginning of the year, when it was a bit more convenient in the world we went off running to whatever God is calling us into. However, as the year has progressed we stop at the entrance of where we are supposed to be, afraid to go inside. Afraid that it might not be what we expected. Here’s the danger of that: someone else may waltz right in your destiny because you were too afraid to seize it. Don’t get me wrong God used both these men in mighty ways, but I think this is a good reminder to finish the race full steam ahead.

 

Life Application

I want to be someone who is known for finishing every spiritual race I run with pride. I don’t want to stop right at the finish line because I’m afraid the medal may not be everything I expected. Here is something I do know: God loves to exceed every expectation that I may have. That seems scary, but it also gives me the courage to take a look inside the tomb. I hope you feel the same way. Let’s stop and take hold of our destiny, and get back to running fervently and to win.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to as to get the prize.

-Allison Khan

John_19

Scripture

John 19: 1-3

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus died a sinner's/criminal's death. He was not only killed, but was mocked, tortured and treated like the lowest of the low. He was innocent and sinless and did not deserve that type of punishment, yet He endured it for the world.

Understanding-What does it mean?

The depths of His love for the world is immeasurable.  Jesus' deep, passionate and crazy love for us held Him to endure all that  pain and suffering.

How can someone endure such pain and torture, especially the Son of God who could have easily murdered everyone involved? Of course, He was being obedient to His Father's will, but I believe it is more than that. It was His love for you and I that sustained Him through all that torture and pain.  I imagine that He was thinking of You and I and all the love He had for all sinners of the world. How can we choose to neglect Him when we grasp the depths of His love for us? 

I love the song "Above All".  It always gets me at the heart, especially the part of the song that says,  "Like a rose, trampled on the ground, You took the fall and thought of me, above all."

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Isaiah 53:5-7 NIV

Life Application

His love for us is not meant to be hidden and kept to ourselves, but shared with the world., especially those who don't yet know.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 NIV

People need Jesus. Understanding that He is not here to condemn me, but to save me from myself and sinful thoughts/ways, motivates me to want to share that gift with others. God IS love (1 John 4:8 and 4:16b) and the understanding that no one can separate me from His undeniable and jealous love is what strengthens me to love others in return.

-Michelle Gaddi

John_18

Scripture:

John 18:26-27

²⁶ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Observation:

The final betrayal by Judas, after essentially selling Jesus out for a few pieces of silver, Judas leads the troops to where Jesus is praying so they can arrest him.  Peter responds, raising his sword I believe in an attempt to protect and defend Jesus, cutting off a soldier’s ear.  Then, as Jesus is arrested and taken in, the disciples scatter and Peter lives out the foreshadowed events Jesus had shared – denying Jesus 3 times before the rooster crows.

Understanding:

Albeit today’s reading reveals a snapshot moment in time of Peter’s life – one I’m sure he’s not proud – I think it’s fitting to remind ourselves of who Peter was leading up to this moment as well as who he became known as even after.

·      Peter was a fiercely loyal man. 

·      Like the other 11 apostles, he left his occupation to follow Jesus for three years, learning directly from Him about the kingdom of Heaven.

·      After being invited by Jesus to come, Peter got out of his boat and for a brief few moments walked on water (Matthew 14:28-33).

·      Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16:16), not through his own knowledge but the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

·      He was chosen by Jesus to witness the transfiguration.

·      After Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly proclaimed the gospel in Jerusalem as a fearless missionary for Christ, unafraid of arrest and persecution.

·      Most scholars consider Peter the eyewitness source for the Gospel of Mark. He also penned the books 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

https://www.learnreligions.com/peter-the-apostle-member-jesus-inner-circle-701069

I listened to a sermon/message this week where this moment was discussed – the moment where Peter denied Jesus for a 3^rd time as he heard the rooster crow…just as Jesus had said would happen (and Peter rebuffed).  The speaker raised the question what do you think Peter’s face looked like in that moment?  The universal image of shame comes to mind – face down, shoulders low.  We all know that look, have felt that feeling.  But the speaker then asked what do you think Jesus’ face looked like in that moment?  I don’t know about you but I began to tie a human reaction to it – a face of anger, disappointment, “see, I told you so!” or so frustrated that you don’t even want to make eye contact with them right then.  But he went on to share that God does not look away; He sees the sin [your sin, my sin, our sin] and does not avert his eyes, he doesn’t shame us or hide from us or avoid us but he also doesn’t pretend it didn’t/is not happening.  

 

And if we look to Peter's story, we also find ourselves forgiven.  

Life Application:

The speaker tied this to our current circumstances of a nation dealing with racism.

 

I’m sure every one of us has been forced to face the topic of racism in some form or fashion in these last several months.  So, how do we respond?  Do we get angry and raise up our sword?  Do we look away and pretend as if it’s not happening or it’s not really a problem?  Do we point fingers and blame?  Do we stand up alongside and/or for our brothers and sisters?  Do we have the uncomfortable conversations and recognize our own part in it – regardless of how shameful that may be?

My thoughts are that we do not look away.  We keep the gaze – full of love and grace.  We are honest with ourselves and own our part...and walk in forgiveness, not shame, but also don't allow it to happen again.

 

…and we “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice”

(Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT).

Rei

PS Loved this from a commentary I read this morning…may we remember His glory today. <3

“Wherever in our Lord’s life any incident indicates more emphatically than usual the lowliness of His humiliation, there, by the side of it, you get something that indicates the majesty of His glory.” (Maclaren)

· Jesus was born as a humble baby, yet announced by angels.

· Jesus was laid in a manger, yet signaled by a star.

· Jesus submitted to baptism as if He were a sinner, then heard the Divine voice of approval.

· Jesus slept when He was exhausted, but awoke to calm the storm.

· Jesus wept at a grave, then called the dead to life.

· Jesus surrendered to arrest, then declared “I am” and knocked all the troops over.

· Jesus died on a cross, but in it He defeated sin, death, and Satan.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-18/