John 13:1 "Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. He said, 'I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."
John 13: 34 "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
On the night Judas betrayed Him, and knowing the other disciples would soon deny, reject and abandon Him, Jesus showed them the full extent of His love. He assumed the role of an humble servant and washed His disciple's feet. Jesus knew that there was a competitive spirit in the hearts of His disciples. In fact, within a few minutes, the men were disputing over which of them was the greatest. The world would know them to be disciples of Jesus if they loved each other. But for this to happen, and for them to have a great impact on the lost world, they needed a lesson in humility. By His actions, Jesus rebuked their selfishness and pride.
Things to Ponder
1. Do I need a lesson in humility? Do I consider myself "too good" to be a servant to others?
2. Does the world know that I am an Christian by the love I have for others?
3. Can the Christ-like characteristics of humility, servanthood, and love be seen in me?
Ask the Father to show you someone today who needs to know the love of Jesus. How you can serve that person so they can come to know the Savior? -jl
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
JESUS IS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND
Isaiah 53:3 "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."
Psalm 55:12-13 "It was not an enemy insulting me, I could stand that. It was not someone who hated me. But it is you, a person like me, my companion and good friend. We had good friendship and walked together in God's temple."
Luke 22:4 "And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus."
Matthew 26:22 "While they were eating, He said, 'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.' The disciples were sad and said, 'Surely not I, Lord."
MAN OF SORROWS', WHAT A NAME
'Man of Sorrows' what a name, For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim, Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Betrayed by a friend--betrayed by one who had followed Him, who had seen His miracles, heard Him teach, felt His compassion. Even though we know Judas to be a dishonest greedy man, we ask ourselves, "how in the world could he have betrayed Jesus? Yet when Jesus confronted the disciples telling of the betrayal, they all asked, "Is it I?" We all can betray Him. How? When we choose the world instead of Christ. When we hear His Word, and refuse to believe, we too betray Him. How this must break His heart.
Things to Ponder
1. Do I believe in Jesus, yet live my life as if I didn't? Then I betray Jesus.
2. Do I truly believe Jesus as my Savior? Have I just "joined the church, and been baptized" and have not had real salvation experience? Then I have betrayed Jesus.
3. Do I break the heart of the Savior by willingly choosing to live a life that is not pleasing to Him?
We all have a choice to live a life of faith, or a life of betrayal. -jl
Psalm 55:12-13 "It was not an enemy insulting me, I could stand that. It was not someone who hated me. But it is you, a person like me, my companion and good friend. We had good friendship and walked together in God's temple."
Luke 22:4 "And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus."
Matthew 26:22 "While they were eating, He said, 'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.' The disciples were sad and said, 'Surely not I, Lord."
MAN OF SORROWS', WHAT A NAME
'Man of Sorrows' what a name, For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim, Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Betrayed by a friend--betrayed by one who had followed Him, who had seen His miracles, heard Him teach, felt His compassion. Even though we know Judas to be a dishonest greedy man, we ask ourselves, "how in the world could he have betrayed Jesus? Yet when Jesus confronted the disciples telling of the betrayal, they all asked, "Is it I?" We all can betray Him. How? When we choose the world instead of Christ. When we hear His Word, and refuse to believe, we too betray Him. How this must break His heart.
Things to Ponder
1. Do I believe in Jesus, yet live my life as if I didn't? Then I betray Jesus.
2. Do I truly believe Jesus as my Savior? Have I just "joined the church, and been baptized" and have not had real salvation experience? Then I have betrayed Jesus.
3. Do I break the heart of the Savior by willingly choosing to live a life that is not pleasing to Him?
We all have a choice to live a life of faith, or a life of betrayal. -jl
Monday, March 17, 2008
JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE
Matthew 21:12-13 "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers."
I Corinthians 3:24 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
CLEANSE ME
Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
The temple in Jerusalem was the place where God chose to dwell with His people. To the Jews, it was a sign of God's love--a sign of His commitment to be with them at all times. It was a place of prayer and worship. That is why Jesus became so angry with the money changers and merchants. They were selling Passover sacrificial animals there in the very place that was to be called a House of Prayer for everyone. And, they were cheating the people.
They were desecrating the sacred place God Himself had designed for everyone to pray and worship. They were in the area of the temple set aside for the non-Jews to come and worship. What kind of testimony were they making to the world?
I Corinthians tells us that we are now the temple of God. When we allow sin in our lives, we too desecrate the holy place where God has chosen to dwell. What kind of testimony is that to the non-Christian world?
THINGS TO PONDER
1. Will I allow God to search me and show me areas of sin in my "temple" that need to be
cleansed?
2. Will I allow Him to cleanse me--even if He chooses a drastic method to do so?
3. Is prayer a very important part of my life?
After cleansing the temple, Matthew 21:14 says that Jesus focused His attention to the blind, sick and lame. When we allow Him to cleanse us, we too can concentrate on the needs of others. And, as the hymn says, we are set free.
-jl
I Corinthians 3:24 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray
See if there be some wicked way in me;
The temple in Jerusalem was the place where God chose to dwell with His people. To the Jews, it was a sign of God's love--a sign of His commitment to be with them at all times. It was a place of prayer and worship. That is why Jesus became so angry with the money changers and merchants. They were selling Passover sacrificial animals there in the very place that was to be called a House of Prayer for everyone. And, they were cheating the people.
They were desecrating the sacred place God Himself had designed for everyone to pray and worship. They were in the area of the temple set aside for the non-Jews to come and worship. What kind of testimony were they making to the world?
I Corinthians tells us that we are now the temple of God. When we allow sin in our lives, we too desecrate the holy place where God has chosen to dwell. What kind of testimony is that to the non-Christian world?
THINGS TO PONDER
1. Will I allow God to search me and show me areas of sin in my "temple" that need to be
cleansed?
2. Will I allow Him to cleanse me--even if He chooses a drastic method to do so?
3. Is prayer a very important part of my life?
After cleansing the temple, Matthew 21:14 says that Jesus focused His attention to the blind, sick and lame. When we allow Him to cleanse us, we too can concentrate on the needs of others. And, as the hymn says, we are set free.
-jl
Sunday, March 16, 2008
JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM
John 23:12-13 "The crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord' 'Blessed is the King of Israel."
TELL ME THE STORIES OF JESUS
Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me, if He were here
Scenes by the way-side, tales of the seas
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Into the city I'd follow, there take my stand,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand
One of His heralds, Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas, "Jesus is King."
(W.H. Parker)
I stood on the streets of Jerusalem that Sunday, waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, "Save us, Save us!" "Freedom, Freedom!" Our king, our Messiah--the Promised One is coming--the one who can free us from these hated Romans is here!! Hosanna!!
I had heard about Him. I had heard that He could heal the sick, that He could feed thousands with very little food. Everyone was talking about His miracles. Some said that He could raise the dead. Oh! The Wonder! And here He is--we can now see Him.
The crowds are all wild with excitement. People put their coats on the ground for Him, but, He doesn't seem to notice. He seems....sad.
He enters the city and comes straight to me. I am in awe--of all the people there, He came to me. He just stands there looking at me. He doesn't say a word. Then He turned around and left me. Why??
Because He was looking at the REAL me. I was caught up with the excitement of the crowd--shouting praises that were selfish. I was thinking about myself--what He was going to do for me.
Those songs of praise were not for Him. I wasn't worshipping Him, and He knew it. So, he Just stood there looking at me, and I was exposed for what I had done. And He left me without saying a word. I am so ashamed. I will never forget how he looked at me--those eyes.
Jesus, please forgive me. Yes, I thought you came to free us from the Romans. I didn't realize you came to free us from sin--from myself. Please come back. Please cleanse me.
The crowds waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna" that day, and before the week was over, crowds would be yelling, "Crucify Him". They wanted Jesus to be their King and free them from Roman Oppression. But that wasn't His mission. He came to free them, not from the Romans, but from the bondage of their sins. Because He didn't meet their demands and fulfill their desires and dreams, they crucified Him.
THINGS TO PONDER:
1. Have I allowed Jesus to free me from sin, and is he my King of Kings?
2. Do I worship and sing praises to Jesus on Sunday, and betray Him the rest of the week?
3. Is my worship as fickle as the crowd's on the streets of Jerusalem?
4. Are my interests so selfish that I am blind to the interests of God?
5. Do I understand the mission of Jesus and my part in that mission?
-jl
TELL ME THE STORIES OF JESUS
Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me, if He were here
Scenes by the way-side, tales of the seas
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Into the city I'd follow, there take my stand,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand
One of His heralds, Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas, "Jesus is King."
I stood on the streets of Jerusalem that Sunday, waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, "Save us, Save us!" "Freedom, Freedom!" Our king, our Messiah--the Promised One is coming--the one who can free us from these hated Romans is here!! Hosanna!!
I had heard about Him. I had heard that He could heal the sick, that He could feed thousands with very little food. Everyone was talking about His miracles. Some said that He could raise the dead. Oh! The Wonder! And here He is--we can now see Him.
The crowds are all wild with excitement. People put their coats on the ground for Him, but, He doesn't seem to notice. He seems....sad.
He enters the city and comes straight to me. I am in awe--of all the people there, He came to me. He just stands there looking at me. He doesn't say a word. Then He turned around and left me. Why??
Because He was looking at the REAL me. I was caught up with the excitement of the crowd--shouting praises that were selfish. I was thinking about myself--what He was going to do for me.
Those songs of praise were not for Him. I wasn't worshipping Him, and He knew it. So, he Just stood there looking at me, and I was exposed for what I had done. And He left me without saying a word. I am so ashamed. I will never forget how he looked at me--those eyes.
Jesus, please forgive me. Yes, I thought you came to free us from the Romans. I didn't realize you came to free us from sin--from myself. Please come back. Please cleanse me.
The crowds waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna" that day, and before the week was over, crowds would be yelling, "Crucify Him". They wanted Jesus to be their King and free them from Roman Oppression. But that wasn't His mission. He came to free them, not from the Romans, but from the bondage of their sins. Because He didn't meet their demands and fulfill their desires and dreams, they crucified Him.
THINGS TO PONDER:
1. Have I allowed Jesus to free me from sin, and is he my King of Kings?
2. Do I worship and sing praises to Jesus on Sunday, and betray Him the rest of the week?
3. Is my worship as fickle as the crowd's on the streets of Jerusalem?
4. Are my interests so selfish that I am blind to the interests of God?
5. Do I understand the mission of Jesus and my part in that mission?
-jl
The Journey
As we journey with Jesus the last week He lived, we want to feel His passion, hurt when He hurt, experience His emotions and suffer His pain.
We have traveled the road to Jerusalem with Him to celebrate the Passover. We didn't realize that this road would lead us to the Cross. We all must face the cross. We must force ourselves to hear Jesus cry out in pain. We must stay there and watch the horror of His death. We must stand at the foot of the Cross and watch His blood drop to the ground.
Why? Because the Bible says that we are all sinners, and without the shedding of His blood, there can be no cleansing and forgiveness for our sins.
Also, without the cross there would be no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, there would be no hope of eternal life.
As we walk in the footprints of our Savior these last days of His life, we will get a glimpse of ourselves. Will we find ourselves in the fickle crowd waving palm branches, shouting praises to Him--only to betray Him and deny Him before the week is over? Will we feel shame as He reveals the dirty things He sees in or lives and allow Him to cleanse us as He cleansed the temple? Will we grieve as He prays for us in the Garden? Will we know the fellowship of sharing His sufferings? -jl
We have traveled the road to Jerusalem with Him to celebrate the Passover. We didn't realize that this road would lead us to the Cross. We all must face the cross. We must force ourselves to hear Jesus cry out in pain. We must stay there and watch the horror of His death. We must stand at the foot of the Cross and watch His blood drop to the ground.
Why? Because the Bible says that we are all sinners, and without the shedding of His blood, there can be no cleansing and forgiveness for our sins.
Also, without the cross there would be no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, there would be no hope of eternal life.
As we walk in the footprints of our Savior these last days of His life, we will get a glimpse of ourselves. Will we find ourselves in the fickle crowd waving palm branches, shouting praises to Him--only to betray Him and deny Him before the week is over? Will we feel shame as He reveals the dirty things He sees in or lives and allow Him to cleanse us as He cleansed the temple? Will we grieve as He prays for us in the Garden? Will we know the fellowship of sharing His sufferings? -jl
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