#John18 #John19 - The darkest day in history

Click here to read John 18-19:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?


These two chapters flow seamlessly together to tell the story of Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial. This is the fourth gospel I have now gone through, and this is the fourth account of this part of the story I have read recently. It's not fun. It's hard to read how cruel the leaders were to Jesus, how hard-hearted they were towards God, and how persistently they persecuted him. It was not a pretty picture. In fact, it's safe to say that it was the darkest day in history. There have been others, but putting the Son of God to death seems to top them all. Despite the fact that it was his plan to allow himself to be killed, it was still the sin of all people that he bore on the cross. It's easy to see the ugliness in the people who were plotting against him and shouting "Crucify," but it reminds me that there is an ugly part of me (my sinful nature) that I still need God to take away and transform.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Pilate wrote a sign above Jesus that said "The King of the Jews." The Jewish leaders didn't like it, because they wanted it to say, "This man claimed to be the king of the Jews." But Pilate refused to change it. While here on earth Jesus talked a lot about his kingdom and the Father's kingdom, but he doesn't directly claim to be the king. However, in Revelation 17:14 and 19:16, Jesus is given the title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords that he deserves.

3. What does this mean for my life?

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and deserted by the other disciples, he was denied by Peter, one of his closest friends. I think about Peter a lot, how he made bold claims to follow Jesus to the end and fight for him at all costs. Still he ended up denying Christ three times. I feel like that sometimes. I am bold about my faith in Christ at times, and other times I may shy away from sharing it. I want to be not ashamed of the gospel, as Paul says in Romans 1:16, but I am thankful that Jesus even uses someone like Peter to grow the church.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

My biggest question is, "Did Pilate really believe in Jesus?" In this account, it seemed like he almost became a believer in who Jesus was, but felt powerless to do anything besides sentence him to death. Still, he was the one who had to make the decision, and he caved into the pressure of the crowds.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Luke23 - Dead Set on his Mission

Click here to read Luke 23:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

As I read the account of Jesus trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus, what stood out to me most was the pure hatred and utter rejection of the religious leaders. In verse 10, it says they were "vehemently accusing him." In verse 23 it says that "with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." They were dead set against Jesus, and they won...or so they thought. I don't know what I would have done if I were in their shoes, but I'm sure glad Jesus died so my hard heart could be made alive again. Even though they were dead set against Jesus, he was dead set on his mission to restore us to God through his death on the cross.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Someone today made an interesting observation about the thief on the right and the thief on the left being similar to how Jesus described the judgment being like separating sheep and goats. The righteous (those who believed, repented, and lived their life for Jesus) were on one side, and those who rejected Jesus were on the other. I had never made that connection before. I thought it was worth mentioning.

3. What does this mean for my life?

When Jesus was on the cross, he forgave those who mocked and tortured him, and they didn't ever ask for it. They never sat down and confessed their sin. Jesus still pleaded with the Father to forgive them. It's easy to think that we shouldn't forgive someone unless they admit their wrong first, but that only builds up resentment and bitterness inside. I need to remember to be quick to forgive.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

On the way to Golgotha, Jesus gave a mini speech, in which he told the women not to weep for him, because times are gonna get worse. In fact, he said there will be a time when it would be better for women not to have children. What time was he talking about? Or was this just a way to say, there will always be evil, and it will only get worse?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Luke22 - When Darkness Reigns

Click here to read Luke 22:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Perhaps it was because I read this right after seeing a Living Last Supper drama. Perhaps it was because I am reading this on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Perhaps it was because I am not as familiar with the gospel of Luke as much as the other gospels. Or perhaps because of this journey I'm on to dig daily into God's word, I am noticing more details as I read the familiar stories. Whatever the reason or combination of factors, reading this chapter tonight felt more personal and emotional. I noticed that Jesus was agonizing in telling his disciples about the Passover feast and his suffering. I noticed the earnestness in Jesus' prayer in the garden. I noticed the exclamation marks when Jesus was telling the disciples to put away their swords. Finally I noticed the sentence that defined the next couple of days for Jesus in verse 53. "This is your hour - when darkness reigns." It was a literal darkness, since they came to arrest him at night when nobody would notice them, but it was also a spiritually dark time when the Son of God would be humiliated and killed.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Ephesians 5:8-12, Paul encourages Christians to live as children of light, since we are now light in the Lord. He goes on to warn Christians not to have anything to do with the "fruitless deeds of darkness." It just seems to be that the physical darkness and spiritual darkness may not be all that disconnected. It seems that much of what is spiritually dark is done when it is physically dark because, as Paul also mentions in this passage, "It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." If you want something to be secret, you do it in the dark. That was really an interesting connection.

3. What does this mean for my life?

As a personal application of this, another passage came into my head from Romans 6:11-13. Here's what it says.

"11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness."

I need to be on guard that I don't give in to the temptation to obey these desires of darkness, but rather dedicate my body and life to do what is right in God's sight.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I don't understand what Jesus was trying to say about selling your cloak and buying a sword. I don't think the disciples did either, because they apparently scrounged up two swords, but Jesus said, "That's enough!" Later he rebuked the disciples for using their swords. I bet they were confused then too.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

image from http://www.emfi.org/library/Biographies/Judas/images/m-capture.JPG

#Mark14 - Lavishly Loving and Notably Naked

Click here to read Mark 14:

1. What stood out to you from this chapter?

I suppose the title of this blog sounds like some scandalous romance novel, but I assure you it has nothing to do with romantic love. In fact, the title describes two separate incidents in this chapter - one inspiring and the other just plain funny. The first is the incident of the woman pouring a jar of expensive perfume on Jesus. In a normal setting, this would be seen as excessive and wasteful (which some of the disciples, clarified as Judas in other gospels were quick to point out). But this lavish and "over-the-top" expression of love for Jesus was not wasted at all. In fact, Jesus commended it. It's funny how Jesus pointed out the faith of a Gentile as being greater than any he had seen in all Israel, and how it is this "wasteful" act of a woman that Jesus says will be remembered whenever his story is told. The second part of the title happens when the disciples flee. Mark is a brief gospel and doesn't include a lot of the details that Matthew and Luke do, so it is funny that he takes the time to make note of this one disciple that was not wearing much to begin with and then had to flee away naked. :)

2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?

In the garden, as Jesus is praying, his words reflect an incredible surrender of his life to God's will. He wasn't afraid to ask God to make a different way, but in the end he submitted to God's will and plan, knowing it was the best. In James 4, we receive similar instructions even about making plans for tomorrow. "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'"

3. What does this mean for my life?

I often feel like Peter, quick to speak of loyalty and faithfulness (which are true) but prone to temptation when it comes to choosing the right thing. It is so easy to give in to the "little" temptations, the things that don't really hurt anyone: pirating music or movies, speeding, viewing inappropriate movies or websites, crude humor or swearing. It is really easy to deny God in those moments, even after we have just participated in a great worship service or Bible study. For me, it's even more reason to keep my guard up against temptation, and to rest in God's mercy and forgiveness when I do fall.

4. What questions do I have about this chapter?

What role did Judas play in this whole scenario? In some ways it seems like he is almost a "pawn" of God's plan. Since prophesy had to be fulfilled, someone had to betray Jesus. In other ways he seems like he is a pawn of Satan's plan (Luke 22:3 and John 13:27 both tell us that "Satan entered Judas"). It wasn't like Judas was at a seance with devil worshippers inviting him in. But ultimately it is still clear that Judas was the one whose heart was hard and chose to betray Jesus.

Those are my thoughts for the day. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you, and KEEP DIGGING IN.

In Christ,
Dan

image from http://www.biblecartoons.co.uk/images/image.php?image=215.jpg&width=525&height=378 

#Matthew26 - Passover's Perfect Timing

Click here to read Matthew 26:

1. What stood out to you from this chapter?

This is a part of the Scriptures that I feel like I know really well. Not only is it read and acted out every Easter, but because the death and resurrection of Jesus are pivotal to all of Christianity, I feel like these final chapters of the gospels are almost always being referenced and read. Still, as I read this chapter today, what stood out to me was the fact that the Passover celebration was just taking place. Passover is a Jewish holiday that was celebrated every year to remind the Jews of how God had sent the final plague when they were slaves in Egypt which ultimately led to their freedom. The plague? - the angel of death that killed the firstborn male in each houshold unless the family heeded God's warning to smear the blood of a pure lamb above the doorpost and on the gate. That's really what the last supper was: a celebration of this holiday. And even though I knew this connection before, Jesus was about to die on a cross, and we would be made pure and clean through his blood. In fact, John the Baptist even announces early on, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." It was perfect timing that Jesus would shed his blood on the Passover holiday.

2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?

The words Jesus speaks during the last supper are almost verbatim what most Christian churches say when celebrating communion in church services. But there is another place in Scripture that also states it in very similar words: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. It's pretty much the same.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Well, I can often relate to Peter. It's so easy to make a pledge to do something for Christ in a moment of passion or at an event with a lot of emotions involved. But inevitably I fall sometimes. Sometimes it's not denying Christ to others, but sometimes I let things slide when I have "resolved" to take a stand for Christ in a certain area. Something like, "Jesus if you do _______, I'll never do _____________ again." Instead I should just live your life in honor to God and trust fully in his grace and forgiveness when we fall.

4. What questions do I have about this Chapter?

During the Last Supper, Jesus says, "woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." What is Jesus referring to? I assume it means the agony they will experience in hell.

That's it for today. Keep digging in!

In Christ,
Dan

image from http://www.jaydax.co.uk/lastsupper/lastsupp.jpg

#Acts26 - I Am Not Insane...True and Reasonable

Acts 26 -

1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?

As the blog title indicates, I was struck by by Paul's rationality and calmness throughout this whole trial. It served him well. He was patient with the whole system. He did not shout (even though Festus did), he spoke with honor and due respect for "most excellent Festus" and "King Agrippa," and he started over from the beginning. None of his language is overly accusatory either. I just think I might have acted otherwise, and I think that is really admirable.

2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?

I have already mentioned that this whole process of Paul's journey to Jerusalem, arrest, and trial remind me of Jesus and his own reaction during the process. Also, during this chapter, Paul recounts his own journey to Damascus in Acts 9. But one of the things that caught my attention was when Paul said that they know from the prophets "that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles." I don't know where it says that Christ would be the first to rise from the dead in the Prophets, but there are three other places in the New Testament that say the same thing. Two are letters from Paul, and one is a vision given to John. 1 Corinthians 15:20, Colossians 1:18, and Revelation 1:5 all talk about Christ being the firstborn from among the dead. I know in Corinthians that whole chapter reminds us that our hope of rising from the dead is based entirely on Christ's resurrection from the dead.

3. What does this mean for my life?

At the end of Acts 26, King Agrippa asks is Paul thinks he can convince him to become a Christian in such a short time. Paul says, "Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am..." In previous chapters, we saw clearly Paul's integrity. In this chapter, we get a wide-open glimpse into his heart. His heart is not proud, it is not self-seeking. It is full of love, compassion, and a desire for all to come to know Jesus by faith and be sanctified through Him. He does not apologize nor is he is not out to offend anyone, but he speaks freely, reasonably, truthfully, and boldly about his faith. Lord, may you give me even more of your heart for people that I would also speak in the same way with the same energy about You, so that more people would know you and make you known to all.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

We never really find out here, but did King Agrippa ever come to believe in Christ? Paul seemed to have good reason that he believed the prophets. I know King Herod in the Christmas story believed the prophets enough to send detachments of troops to Bethlehem looking for Messiah to kill him.

I'd love to hear any responses or thoughts from others about the chapter.

In Christ,
Dan