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/

Psalm 79

Scripture  Psalm 79:8-9 & 13  Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us;

Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, For we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake...So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise. Observation-What does it say?  “Asaph is featured prominently in Chronicles. He is described as the chief of the Levites appointed to minister before the ark of the Lord, and he and his brothers are appointed to sing the songs of thanksgiving to the Lord (1Chr 16:4-7)” (bibleodyssey.org).  This psalm dates to the time of Israel’s exile and the captivity of Judah by Babylon (near 600 BC).  It is a prayer for the forgiveness of Israel and for God’s judgement on their neighboring countries who have dealt harshly with them.  Israel suffered exile because of the continued sins over generations.  Asaph prays for God’s people to be brought near to His glory, so His great name will go forth for generations to come.   Understanding-What does it mean?  Not that long ago, I found a piece of my sports equipment broken and hiding in our backyard (it was so important to me that I don’t even remember what it was).  I had a sneaking suspicion that one of my boys had used it and accidentally broken it.  But, instead of coming clean about the issue, they tried to hide it and act as if it hadn’t happened.  While normally I could go a little off the deep end about these types of incidents, I was able to gather myself this time and ask what happened calmly.  A little to my surprise, it wasn’t a straight disaster when the item broke.  They boys had a minor problem and tried to fix it, which unfortunately made the problem irreparable.  Embarrassed, they put the item somewhere that they thought I wouldn’t see it.Sometimes, we act the same way with our sins.  God gives us directions on how to live, but then we try to shortcut those plans or act as though we can do it better.  In our pride, when we totally fail we try to hide it, usually with another bad decision.  In time, we have walked so far from what God intended for us and are paying the price for it.  These are the times when we need to come to God with humility and cry out, “Draw me back to you.”  We, like Paul, are often at odds with our own body.  “ I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members”(Romans 7:21-23).  In these times, we must learn to rely on the Holy Spirit. Life Application  “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)  Through God, we are more than conquerors.  In him we will not only move past our sin, but we will also overcome death and be wrapped up in His glory for all time, “for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”(Acts 17:28).  God help me to rely on this fully everyday and live as your child, not as a slave to sin.    
-Tyler Galloway