March 30, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 20 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.29 through 5.32 (pages 160-162)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
What confusion the disciples must have been feeling. They have followed Jesus so long and have done whatever He asked of them and to now hear that they will doubt or deny Him. Fear is a powerful thing and because they can not grasp what was about to happen to Jesus, that the same crowd that had been shouting praise will next shout Crucify Him! That the crowd will despise those who walked with Him and the disciples will fear for their own lives.
But the hope to know that the power Jesus showed while He was on earth; healing, casting out demons, even raising the dead is still at their fingertips and so there is no need to fear. Yes they will waiver as likely we all would but then they will remember we are on the winning team! God is our Father and will supply all we need and He will listen to our prayers and answer our cries!
On lent 2023 day 20
Jesus knew what Judas was going to do and knew what Peter was gonna to do. And he never stopped loving them. Makes me feel real good when I mess up most of the time. To love one another is not a new command but the love we know to be true from how much Jesus loved us even when we were sinners. Whole new way of looking at people. John 14. What a great promise of eternal life. And most important the way to get there A lot believe this way is way too narrow and therefore has to be another way besides that. Well then, Jesus died for nothing. And it’s the opposite of narrow. As his arms stretch out for ALL OF MANKIND and welcome them to believe.
Day 20 5:29-5:32
Jesus explains it’s now time for him to receive his Glory, He commands the apostles to love each other as he has loved them and people will know that they are his followers by this love. He tells them also that they will lose their faith in him, powerful statement “I will kill the Shepard and the sheep will run away”what a great analogy of what happened when they came for Jesus. Peter will deny knowing Jesus but Peter says I would never and Jesus tells him you will deny me three times before the rooster crows twice.
Jesus then comforts his followers by telling them about how he will prepare a place for them. He tells them to trust in God and trust in him and he will be back for them. Jesus is able to do all of this knowing what is ahead of him, the pain he will endure and the suffering he will go through for them and all of us. He tells the apostles “don’t be troubled”.
Yes it must have been very hard for the disciples to understand what Jesus meant even though He is telling them directly what will happen to Him. How could they imagine Jesus being turned over killed and then being raised from the dead and coming back and meeting them in Galilee? And yet Jesus tells them so they won’t be completely surprised and thrown off. And how easy is it for any of us to say I will do this or not do that when we are not in the throws of the event itself. It is a reminder for all of us to stay strong in faith when we face persecution. We do have the benefit of hindsight where the disciples needed to have foresight. Jesus also provides hope and provision in the passages here. First, He directs them to each other. Love each other as I have loved you. Second He reminds them the Father is the one orchestrating the events and He is always in control. Third He not only let’s them know He will rise from the dead, but also go and prepare a place for them so they can be with Him forever. There are no more powerful and bold words than these…I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me! What a truth to believe and orient our lives to!
Day 20
5.29-5.32
Day 20 5.29–5.32
Jesus told his disciples, “you know the way to the place where I am going”. And they did know because they knew Jesus. It would have been foolish for them to think there was any other way for them to get to His heavenly kingdom. And it is the same for us today.
Fear can de-rail us even when we know the plan. Jesus has told Peter how he will react when persecution comes and yet Peter still denies Christ. I pray that when persecution comes, the Holy Spirit will strengthen me/us to face it with courage and to not fear (makes me think of the book of Joshua).
I think of all of the things that are taking place right now that instill fear in us….is Satan using these circumstances to prep us to cower and submit to his plans? I think we should make sure we are discerning….so many things were placed before us that we should not have feared….even if they were truly dangerous, should we respond in fear?
pandemic…..social closeness…..school shootings…..guns…..crime……riots…..nuclear war……
Do we respond in fear with regard to potential social accusations? racism, affirming care vs. suicide, homophobia, a woman’s “right to choose”…..they are setting up a false dichotomy to force us to respond in fear. We need our belt of truth!