Monday, April 26, 2021

Let our sorrows turn to joy


 John 16:16-22  “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

17  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 

18  So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 

19  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 

20  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 

21  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 

22  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

               Advice from the Lord

1Pe 2:11-21  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 

12  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 

                                                         Submission to Authority

13  Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 

14  or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 

15  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 

16  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 

17  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 

18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 

19  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 

20  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 

21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Monday, April 19, 2021

The Good Shepherd of ALL

                         JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

 John 10:11-16  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

12  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 

13  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

14  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 

15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

1Pe 2:21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

         JESUS IS TRULY THE SHEPHERD OF ALL

1Peter 2:22-25  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 

23  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 

24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 

25  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 

Monday, April 12, 2021

Jesus appears

                                                        Jesus Appears to the Disciples

John 20:19-29  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

                                        Jesus and Thomas

24  Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

25  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

28  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


Sunday, April 4, 2021

He is Risen!




                                                              The Resurrection

Mark 16:1-8  When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 

2  And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 

And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 

4  And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.....

15  .... And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. .....


Thursday, April 1, 2021

Jesus' story/words, leading up to His crucifixion and to His burial (Mathew 26:1-27:66)

Matthew 26:1-27:66

The Plot to Kill Jesus (1-5)

1  When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

 Jesus Anointed at Bethany (6-13)

10  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 

11  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 

12  In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 

13  Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 

  Judas to Betray Jesus (14-16)

 The Passover with the Disciples (16-25)

18  He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”

23  He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 

24  The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

 25  Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 

Institution of the Lord's Supper (26-29)

26  Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 

27  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,“Drink of it, all of you, 

28  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

29  I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” 

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial (30-35)

31  Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 

32  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 

33  Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 

34  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.  

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane,(36-46)

36  Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 

37  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 

38  Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 

39  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 

40  And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 

41  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

42  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 

43  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 

44  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 

45  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

46  Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” 

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus, (47-56)

47  While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 

48  Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 

49  And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 

50  Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 

51  And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 

52  Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 

53  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 

54  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 

55  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 

56  But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. 

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council (57-68)

64  Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

 Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial  (from Luke)

Luke 22:31-34  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 

32  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 

33  Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 

34  Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” 

Peter Denies Jesus (69-75)

75  And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. 

(Math 27:1-66)

Jesus Delivered to Pilate (Mat 27:1-2)

Judas Hangs Himself (3-10)

 Jesus Before Pilate (11-14)

11  Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas(15-23)

 Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified (24-26)

 Jesus Is Mocked (27-31)

The Crucifixion (32-44)

The Death of Jesus (45-56)

46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

Jesus Is Buried (57-61)

The Guard at the Tomb (62-66)