Category: Gospels
The King wears a crown of thorns!
Scripture reading for November 17th: Daniel 7-9, Psalm 91, John 19
John 19:1-6 “Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe. They came up to Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and was afraid to do anything to Him. Pilate’s great sin was that he allowed the people’s voices to determine Jesus’ fate and not justice. In order to put Jesus out of his jurisdiction, Pilate had Him flogged and then presented back before the people. The soldiers had made a crown of thorns and placed it on Jesus’ head in mockery that He was “King of the Jews”. That crown of thorns used to torment and mock King Jesus was in reality the curse of sin and death being placed on Jesus by the very sinners He came to save! The race of Adam had fallen under the curse as Adam disobeyed God in the Garden. Now Jesus Christ, the second Adam, would bear the curse Himself to redeem all who would humbly listen to Him and repent!
Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came One like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is and everlasting dominion, which shall never pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
Prayer: Father God, Jesus Christ is my Refuge, my Fortress and my God and Lord Whom I trust. I am so thankful that He willingly bore the crown of thorns, taking the curse of sin and death for me and all who will listen to Him. Thank You for Your patience with lost mankind and Your desire that all peoples and nations would know You and serve You for eternity. Use me today to share this Good News!
Psalm 91:1-3 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.”
King of the Truth! King of Heaven!
Scripture reading for November 16th: Daniel 4-6, John 18
John 18: 35-38 “Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You over to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.: Pilate said to Him, “What is Truth?”
Jesus Christ stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Jesus had been brought before Pilate by the Jewish leaders and charged with sedition and promoting Himself as king. Pilate asked Jesus what He had done to merit these charges. Jesus answered Pilate by explaining that His kingdom was not of this world. Pilate then made the deduction that Jesus was indeed a king and asked Him. Jesus replied that Pilate had said so. He also stated that this was His purpose for coming into this world and He must bear witness to this Truth. Pilate struggled to know what was truth. Jesus clearly stated that those who were of the Truth would listen to His voice. Pilate sought to release Jesus, but the Jews demanded He be crucified and a robber released instead.
John 18:38-40 “After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”
Prayer: Father God, I praise You and Your Son Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords because all Your ways are just and right. You speak Truth and are the Truth. You humbled me and all the proud sinners by offering Truth and Your Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Forgive us, Lord, for not worshiping You as King of Heaven and listening to all Your Words of Truth. As long as I live, I will proclaim “Jesus is King!”
Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”
The Father’s Keeping Power
Scripture reading for November 15th: Daniel 1-3, Psalm 88, John 17
John 17: 11-16 “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which you have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One. While I was with them, I kept them in Your Name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them safe from the evil one.”
Jesus closed His final message to His disciples with a prayer that had petitions for Himself, His disciples, and all who would believe in Him throughout the ages through their message. Jesus emphasized that He was returning to heaven. His disciples would still be in the world for a time but they were not of this world, just as He was not of this world. These disciples belonged in heaven. Jesus appealed to His Father for keeping power for these precious followers from the tricks and traps of the evil one. He had given the disciples His Father’s Word and His Name to use as major weapons against the powers of this world. The Holy Father would exalt His Name and His Word to sanctify them, protecting them from the fiery trials of this world and bring them to their heavenly home!
Daniel 3:24-25 “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.””
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for this prayer for us from Your Amazing Son! Thank You for Your powerful Word which sanctifies us and makes us clean and empowers us with the sword of the Spirit. Thank You for the Name of Jesus and heaven’s authority to ask You for help in the fiery trials of life in this world. As the men in the fiery furnace, walk with us and keep us from harm and evil! Amen!
Psalm 88:1-3 “O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.”
No one will steal your joy!
Scripture reading for November 14th: Ezekiel 46-48, John 16
John 16: 19-22 “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’? 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. 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. 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.”
As Jesus explained how He would go away for a time and then they would see Him again, the disciples struggled to understand. Jesus, perceiving this, used a woman giving birth as an illustration of how this event would affect them. As the labor brought pain and lament in the time immediately before the birth, so the disciples would experience pain and lament. The world would rejoice. As the woman quickly forgot the anguish of the birth, joyful at the new baby and new life, so the disciples would also rejoice at Jesus appearing again, having conquered death. He would confirm His resurrection to them in such a way that no one could ever rob them of their joy and hope! They would ask the Father for their needs and receive in Jesus’ Name! Amen!
John 16:23-24 “”In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.””
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these amazing truths and promises of joy and answered prayer. Forgive me for my unbelief in failing to ask You at times for my needs and power to accomplish Your will. Let the river of Your love through the Holy Spirit flow in me, the new ‘temple’, to reach the lost and dying in this world. Encourage me that everywhere that river flows, life will result! Amen!
Ezekiel 47:9 “And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.”
Expect hatred from those in the world
Scripture reading for November 11th: Ezekiel 43-45, Psalm 135, John 15
John 15: 18-23 “”If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the Word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his Master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of My Name, because they do not know Him Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates Me hates My Father also.””
In this last major message before the cross, Jesus explained to His disciples that they had been called out of the world system and into the family and house of God. Because of this, the world would hate them. They were no longer a part of the world system of idolatry, self-exaltation and greed. As the world, political and religious, hated Jesus, so it would hate those who followed Him by faith. All this hatred was because those in the world did not know the Father Who loved them enough to send His only Son to buy them back from the darkness of sin and death. Jesus came and spoke the Word to them and demonstrated God’s love and mercy with miracles and healing. Knowledge brings responsibility and judgment if not applied.
Psalm 135:1-4 “Praise the Lord! Praise the Name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to His Name, for it is pleasant! For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His own possession.”
Prayer: Holy Father in heaven, thank You for Your Word and Your Son Who revealed You to us in teaching and living a holy life before us. We praise You and declare Your goodness and mercy! Thank You for choosing us and placing Your glory within us by the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Use me today to share the Good News of a Savior and Father Who loves us and forgives sin and cleanses us from hatred and lies.
Ezekiel 43:1 “Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of His coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.”
Directions to Father’s house
Scripture reading for November 10th: Ezekiel 40-42; John 14
John 14: 1-6 “”Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.””
The disciples were troubled about Jesus sharing with them His betrayal by one of them and His coming departure. Jesus reassured them and encouraged them to keep on trusting in Him. His departure had a purpose. He was preparing a place for them to be with Him forever and ever. He would come again and take them with Him to be with Him forever. Those who love Him would seek to obey His Words and they would receive another Helper Who would instruct them and guide them in the Truth–the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth would uniquely be only with them and those trusting Jesus and knowing Him. Jesus Christ was the only Way to Father’s house, the Truth, and eternal Life. We are being ‘measured’ for our mansion!
John 14:15-17 “”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.””
Prayer: Father God, how I long to live in Your eternal holiness and presence. Thank You for making that possible for me and any who will choose to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe He is the only Way to Your House. Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who is with me now and forever, preparing and guiding me in obeying Your Word and sharing Your truth with those still looking for the Path to Your house.
Ezekiel 40:2-3 “In visions of God He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south. When He brought me there, behold there was a man whose appearance was like bonze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. . .”
Jesus’ example for the ‘sent ones’!
Scripture reading for November 9th: Ezekiel 37-39, Psalm 87, John 13
John 13: 14-20 “”If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you: I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate My bread has lifted his heel against Me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives the One Who sent Me.””
Jesus had washed the disciples feet at the Last Supper and when He had finished, He instructed those disciples who would become apostles–“sent out ones.” This great Master, Lord and Teacher showed them what their mission was–serving and loving one another. As servants, these apostles were not ‘greater’ than their Master and Lord. It would be a blessed act to apply these Words of Jesus. Those who would respond to their apostolic message would receive them. In receiving them, they would receive Jesus Who sent them. In receiving Jesus, they would also receive the One Father Who sent Him. Those receiving would be given by grace the gift of the Father–the Holy Spirit and keys of God’s kingdom.
Ezekiel 39:7 “And My holy Name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let My holy Name be profaned any more. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.”
Prayer: Father God, the Holy One of Israel and Most High, thank You for sending Jesus Christ, Master, Lord, Teacher, and Savior to set an example for His followers of servant leadership. Thank You for marking each of those who believe with Your Holy Spirit and writing our names in Your register. Use me to share this Good News with all nations that all may know You and the Father Who sent You.
Psalm 87:5-6 “And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High Himself will establish her. The Lord records as He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah
Jesus’ Words will be our judge!
Scripture reading for November 8th: Ezekiel 34-36, Psalm 86, John 12
John 12: 44-48 “And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him Who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My Words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has a judge; the Word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly mission and He made clear that His mission was from God and His Words were absolute truth that was to be received and obeyed. His mission was to reveal the Father to people in darkness and to provide a “way” back to God’s family through the sacrifice of His own body and blood. He was not on earth to judge people or condemn them, but to save them from the penalty of their sins–eternal death. He was there to reverse the curse of sin and death and provide grace for eternal life. His mission would be continued by those who believed His Word and received Him. The gathering of God’s people had begun and their cleansing with the clean water of repentance and faith.
Ezekiel 36: 23-26 “And I will vindicate the holiness of My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate My holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.”
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for having mercy on me when I was in the darkness of sin and headed for death. Thank You for those who shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with me that I might be gathered into Your forever family. Thank You for the ultimate sign of Your favor, the blessed Holy Spirit, Who marks me as belonging to You and leads me to know and obey Your eternal Word. I will praise You for eternity!
Psalm 86:17 “Show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”
What are we to do with Jesus?
Scripture reading for November 7th: Ezekiel 31-33, John 11
John 11:47-50 “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, believed in Him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.””
Jesus had just raised His friend Lazarus from the grave after three days. Many Jews who witnessed this became believers in Jesus as the Messiah. Some were of another opinion and went to tell the Pharisees and the high priest, Caiaphas. The council of seventy was convened to discuss the problem of Jesus. There was concern that Jesus would continue to make converts and this would bring the judgment of Rome upon the Jews and they would lose everything. Caiaphas spoke out, advocating Jesus’ death to save the nation. Little did he realize that the Spirit of God spoke through him in prophetic truth. Jesus would not only save the nation, but all the children of God scattered among the nations. This set in motion Jesus’ death by crucifixion.
John 11:51-53 “He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and no for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put Him to death.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word revealing Your plan of forgiveness for us as wicked sinners. Thank You that Jesus Christ, Your Son, willingly and freely came to earth to give His life in place of ours. Use me to share this amazing Good News and call people to repentance and faith and eternal life in Your household forever.
Ezekiel 33:10-11 “”And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?””
“One flock, One Shepherd!”
Scripture reading for November 4th: Ezekiel 28-30, John 10
John 10: 14-19 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 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. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.”
Jesus used a familiar illustration for His instruction of the Jews concerning His role and mission on earth. He was the “Good Shepherd” who knew and loved His sheep. His sheep would listen to His voice and knew Him as their “Shepherd”. As a Good Shepherd, Jesus stated plainly that He would lay His life down for the sake of the sheep, a reference to the crucifixion to come. This would protect them from the ‘wolf’, or Satan. Jesus plainly stated that His Father loved Him and this obedient sacrifice was assigned to Him by the Father. These amazing words brought division among the Jews. Some said Jesus was demonically possessed or insane and others refuted them with the fact that Jesus had opened the blind man’s eyes. And Jesus had a bigger flock as well–His sacrifice was for the whole of mankind!
John 10:4-6 “When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the loving and merciful gift to us ‘sheep’ of the ability to hear Your voice and know Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the “Good Shepherd” Who laid His life down on the cross for me and all who will choose to believe on Him. Protect me always from the voices of strangers and assure me daily of Your precious love and promises of eternal life in Your presence.
Ezekiel 28:25-26 “”Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.””