John 20

Yesterday, we read through John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today, I invite you to read his account of when he first knew that Jesus was alive. As you do, I pray you are reminded of the joy you experienced when you first believed ... the hope you experienced when you first encountered grace ... the love you experienced when you first understood what it meant for the tomb to be empty. Happy Easter!

John 20

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb.

4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.

6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,

7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.

8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed -

9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.

John 19

In preparation for what we call “Good Friday”, the day Jesus died on a cross for our sins. I would simply ask you to read through John’s account of that experience. I will reserve comment because there is nothing I can add; but I would encourage you to key on Jesus’ words in verse 30 ... it is my favorite line in the whole story.

John 19

16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.

17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”

27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”

29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.

30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Free* Part 6

This past weekend, we completed the Free* series with a celebration and a reminder.

I invite you to reread the story Jonathan used in the message this past weekend. You can find it in Matthew 14:22-33. Here are the verses I wanted to focus on.

Matthew 14

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

So many of you, through this Free series, have begun to walk toward Jesus. You have experienced something you thought was impossible ... freedom from fear or bitterness or rejection. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When you are tempted to look at the “wind and the waves” (the lies you once bought into), resist the enemy and keep walking toward Jesus. If you happen to slip, ask Jesus to pick you up and start walking again. This was never intended to just be a six-week experience. It is an invitation to reengage in a journey that will take a lifetime.

John 18

Today, I am reading John 18. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 18

4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said.

Another reminder that Jesus was in complete control of His own sacrifice. I pray I remember that the next time I face a challenging situation ... Jesus is in complete control.

10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.

I, like Peter, have sometimes carelessly hurt others with my attempts to “defend” Jesus. Instead of careless defenders, Jesus needs followers who provide examples of the same grace and humility and control and trust that He displayed in this moment.

25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

Peter catches a lot of flak for being the one to deny following Jesus; but I know there have been many times when I have done things or said things that express a similar denial.

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.

It saddens me every time I read this passage ... watching Pilate cynically reject Jesus’ offer of truth. I am sad for Pilate; but even more so, I am saddened by the friends that I have that are currently turning away from that same truth. I pray they will learn to love the truth and recognize Jesus as the one that offers it.

John 17

Today, I am reading John 17. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 17

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

One of the natural inclinations we have as Jesus followers is to withdraw from the things of this “world”; but that isn’t what Jesus did and it isn’t what He wanted for us. I would love to have had the opportunity to watch (and learn) as Jesus interacted with some of the more well known “sinners” of His day. He was able to maintain obedience to God while extending grace to “sinners”. I love that about Him and pray I become more like that ... more obedient and more gracious.

20 I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

As a Jesus follower, did you know that Jesus prayed for you? A very cool thought.

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Do you know what Jesus prayed for? That we, as Jesus followers, would get along. Jesus just taught the disciples about this (John 13:34-35) and now He is praying we would all be able to express it.