Tag: beloved disciple
“It is finished”
Scripture reading for November 17th: Daniel 7-9; Psalm 91; John 19
Key Scriptures: John 19:25-30 “So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Jesus was alert and in command, even from the cross. He was aware of Scripture being fulfilled as the soldiers gambled for His garment and as He called out, “I thirst.” He was aware of His mother and honored her by assigning the disciple He loved, John, to care for His mother as if she were his mother. As He drank the sour wine, He knew that in this bitter cup all had been completed to purchase mankind’s salvation from sin and death. He cried out, “It is finished” and gave up His spirit as His final sacrifice, tasting death for all. What a beloved Savior we have!
Psalm 91:14-15 “”Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.””
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness to fulfill Scripture and fully finish the work necessary for my salvation and that of the world. I will hold fast to You in love, trusting You to be with me and protect me and bring me into Your everlasting kingdom.
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 an everlasting dominion, which shall never pass away and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
Jesus made His home with us!
Scripture reading for October 30th: John 1-2
John was the youngest disciple and along with James was one of the “sons of thunder” brothers. These brothers were in the inner circle of disciples and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple Jesus asked from the cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) The theme of his Gospel is “Jesus, the Son of God” and John goes back to Genesis as he begins his account.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John started with a revelation of the Son of God! He was and is the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! The beginning spoken of by John was the beginning of created things, not time, for God is from everlasting. By speaking His powerful Word in faith He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast and huge these creations are, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. God dwelt with His people when Israel was in the desert after Mt. Sinai. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people. This tent was called a “tabernacle”. God’s presence marked His people as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) But to those who did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” and become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! Why not invite Him to pitch His tent in you?
Jesus, the Tent Dweller
Scripture reading for October 30th: John 1-2
The Gospel of John, the beloved disciple, is exciting reading. John was the youngest disciple and one of the “sons of thunder” brothers. James and John were evidently very emotional and yet very likable. These brothers were in the inner circle of three in the company of disciples and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple who Jesus asked from the Cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) The theme of his Gospel is “Jesus, the Son of God” and John goes back to Genesis as he begins his account.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John starts with a revelation of the Son of God! He is the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! Of course, eternity is the realm of God. There is no time in His realm, so there is no beginning from God’s perspective. He always was, is, and will be. The beginning spoken of by John is the beginning of created things. Everything we can see was created by God and by His Word. He is the source and beginning of it all. By speaking His powerful Word in faith He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast and huge these creations are, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. He “tabernacled” with His people! This is what God did when Israel was in the desert after Mt. Sinai. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people. This tent was called a “tabernacle”. God’s presence marked His people as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) Most rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. But to those who would and did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” into God’s family! He would send them the Holy Spirit to live in them and they would become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! What a blessed people are those who receive Him! Why not invite Him to be your Savior today and let Him pitch His tent in you! His powerful Word brings new birth and eternal life!