Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture today is John 1:14 (NIV).

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This passage makes an astounding statement – God sent His Son to be one of us, that by knowing Him in the flesh, we could know Him in spirit and truth. God has sent inspired leaders and teachers before, but they were just human. Jesus is fully man and fully God. More than merely our teacher or example, Jesus is our Savior, sent to be the sacrifice for our sins, and the way to eternal life for all God’s children.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the gift of life through Christ our Redeemer. Bless us to share Your love and mercy with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is John 1:1 (NIV).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If you’ve been following along, I’ve been going through the Bible from Genesis. Having just finished the Gospel of Mark, next up would be the Gospel of Luke. However, I’m going to borrow a page from a study I have done that skips to John first. This is not the canon order and yes, the three synoptic Gospels are usually grouped together. Reading John first and then Luke and Acts does a couple things – it will help lessen the “I’ve heard this twice already” effect we may get when reading Matthew through Luke. Also it allows us to better see the continuation of Christ’s work. Luke wrote both the gospel and Acts, so reading them one after the other may show connections we didn’t get before.

Today’s verse opens John’s Gospel with a reference to creation and that Jesus the Word was part of the process. It points to Jesus coming to begin a new creation and a New Covenant between God and His people. While we say “new”, God’s love and His plan for us have never changed.

Gracious God, You sent Jesus to be our example and the sacrifice for our sin. Forgive us, renew us, and send us to share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 16:6 (NIV).

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

Each of the Gospels see the Crucifixion and Resurrection slightly differently, even as they tell the same story. However, there is no disagreement about the most important facts: Jesus died for our sins and rose again according to God’s plan. Everyone who believes in Him “shall have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is the foundation of our faith and all our hope is in Him.

Gracious God, You sent Your Son that through Him we might be saved. Bless us to be part of His Kingdom work, that all the world may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 15:2 (NIV).

“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Pilate is amazed that Jesus offers no defense but instead turns the charge back to those who accuse Him. We have been told this before in Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Acts 8:32 also quotes this verse. Jesus came as a sacrifice for us, so escaping the false charges against Him was not part of the plan. Jesus accepted His call willingly and even in the face of a death sentence, He was obedient.

Heavenly Father, we are ashamed of our sin and amazed that You have made a way for us to be saved. Bless us to be the joyful voice of Your salvation to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 14:72 (NIV).

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus already knows how we will fail Him. Peter remembers and weeps. It is painful to know He knows. However, that’s not the end of the story. When we admit what we have done and ask forgiveness, Jesus can use us for powerful ministry. To be able to say “been there, done that” when others are suffering creates a human connection. It is our mission then to share the love of Christ and the healing only He can bring.

Loving Lord, You take our failures and use them for Your kingdom, showing others that there is hope for those who choose You. Bless us to be Your representatives, sharing the Good News with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 14:19 (NIV).

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

As Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples, He also shares that one of them will betray Him. They all respond in human fashion – “not me!” While technically only Judas betrays Him to the authorities, we all betray Christ with our sin. When asked by God “what have you done?” Adam doesn’t answer directly but points to Eve, who points to the snake. We all want someone or something other than ourselves to blame. However, God already knows what we have done and waits for us to return in repentance.

Loving Lord, we try to hide our sin from You but we know that is impossible. Forgive us, renew us, and send us to serve Your kingdom in love. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 13:26-27 (NIV).

At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

You can read the other synoptic gospels recording this promise from Jesus in Matthew 24:29 and Luke 21:25. Just as at His Ascension, He promises to return for us. However, as He tells the disciples when they ask “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). We are not to waste time sitting around waiting for Him to call us, He has work for us to do so that everyone may hear the Good News! We must be ready now and always.

Heavenly Father, help us to wait patiently but actively for the day of Christ’s return. May He find us using Your gifts faithfully in the service of Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 12:29-31 (ESV).

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Today we read Mark’s account of Jesus teaching The Greatest Commandment. Jesus surprises all of them with His answer to what is most important by telling them to love God and their neighbor. He is trying to get them (and us!) to see that these cannot be separated. If you don’t love God, there really isn’t anything else to love. If you don’t love your neighbor, you can’t truly love God because that is what He has told us to do. Love God, love neighbor and everything else follows.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the coming of Jesus to teach us the way, and save us from our sins. May we go to tell everyone of the blessing of salvation. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 11:17 (ESV).

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

There are many levels to this lesson, but the most vivid is an angry Jesus stopping the disrespect for the Lord’s House and God Himself. The sacrificial system that originated when they were a nomadic people has evolved into a complicated, monopolistic system that enriches the sellers. What had been an honest and valuable service – providing the sacrifice so people didn’t have to catch or bring their own – became the only “authorized source” for Temple sacrifices at outrageous prices. This is part of what Jesus was so angry about, that people were making ridiculous money unscrupulously, right in front of the Temple. Like many human things that began innocently enough, we have failed in using this to honor God.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we have made Your church and Your worship into something for ourselves. Forgive us, plant our feet on solid ground, and send us to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Mark 10:52 (ESV).

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

I wrote this as part of an exercise at a retreat and I’ve shared it before, but it seems to express how I think the man who was healed felt.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know you’ll be real surprised to get a note from me since I haven’t been able to write for the last 10 years, but I have really amazing news – I can see again! Yes, miraculous is the only way to describe it but here’s what happened. Jesus was coming down the road where I was sitting in my spot. How did I know it was Jesus? I was blind, not deaf! Anyway, I shouted to him, he stopped and asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted to see! Jesus said to me “Go, your faith has healed you” and right then I could see again! I know this is quite a shock, but there’s more – I’m going to Jerusalem with Jesus! I promise I’ll pick up a new cloak the first chance I get. You may think regaining my sight must have made me crazy, but I’ll tell you, once Jesus has touched you, you can’t just go back and sit in your spot anymore.

Your loving son, Bartimaeus

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for a Savior who heals us physically, but more grateful that He came to save us from our sin. Bless us not to go back to our spot, but to follow on the way. Amen.