Posts from March 2024
Daily Devotions
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.” vss. 1-2 Mark 16:1-8 The women knew what to do when Jesus died. While the male disciples stayed hidden in their confusion, as soon as the Sabbath was over the women got to work. Because…
Daily Devotions
Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” vs. 4 Romans 6:3-11 When Jesus invited his followers to become disciples he told them that in order to save their lives they would have to lose them. This dying to self is enormously difficult, and most would rather skip this step in discipleship.…
Daily Devotions
But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs. 5 Isaiah 52:12-53:13 As we read these words from Isaiah on this Good Friday, it’s important to remember that the prophet was not writing about Jesus. Rather he was speaking of the Servant Israel, the exiled nation that had undergone great suffering at the hands of the Babylonians. It had been an…
Daily Devotions
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” vs.23-24 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 After Jesus’ crucifixion, reports immediately began to spread of his resurrection, a few of which are recorded in our gospels. Convinced by…
Daily Devotions
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” vs. 1 Hebrews 12:1-3 In chapter 11 the writer of Hebrews gave a definition of faith that is worthy of memorization. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” He had then gone on…
Daily Devotions
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.” vss. 7-8 Mark 11:1-11 Sometimes on what used to be called Palm Sunday, congregations would gather first outside the church, palm fronds would be distributed, and everyone would process into the sanctuary, waving the branches and singing. Very occasionally an enterprising pastor…
Daily Devotions
Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say— ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.” vs. 27 John 12:27-33 In John’s gospel the coming of the Greeks is a signal to Jesus that the end of his mission is near, and he knows that this will mean his crucifixion. While it may seem that this is all part of the plan and that all things are…
Daily Devotions
Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” vs. 23 John 12:20-26 We might like to know about the Greeks who sought out Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus,” but the gospel writer doesn’t tell us a thing. John had a larger purpose in mentioning them. For him the coming of the Greeks was a signal to Jesus that the hour of his death was at hand. Very soon he…
Daily Devotions
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.” vss. 11-12 Psalm 51:6-11 For a couple of generations these verses were regularly sung as a part of liturgical worship in many congregations. We probably didn’t intentionally memorize them, but they became embedded in our brains nonetheless. For many they were a reminder that one of the main…
Daily Devotions
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.” vs. 5 Psalm 51:1-5 We would just as soon ignore verses like this one when we read scripture. It conjures up old teachings about original sin that have been less than helpful as we’ve battled issues of shame and guilt in our lives. It seems to be a contradiction of our innate goodness as a child of God, and more than that, it implies that somehow our sin…
Daily Devotions
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” vss. 14-15 John 3:14-17 As John struggled to find a metaphor that would make the cross more palatable to his readers, he remembered an obscure incident from the Hebrew scriptures that was absolutely perfect. During one of the Israelites many rebellions against Moses the Lord had sent poisonous serpents as a…
Daily Devotions
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” vs. 10 Ephesians 2:4-10 Even though we are sinners, by grace, God has already raised us up and given us new life in Christ. And when we trust that this is true, we can put away our old selves and devote ourselves to a lifetime of good works. It doesn’t make any difference how we…
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