Ultimate Sacrifice

John 11:45-56

Joni Holeman

These verses about the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus immediately follow His miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.  Now Jerusalem’s priests knew they were up against a seriously powerful threat to their livelihood and political influence!  For seven years High Priest Caiaphas had been working with Pontius Pilate to control the rebellious Jewish population.  Many Jews resented this close relationship that Caiaphas maintained with the Roman authorities.  High Priests were suspected of taking bribes and using their office to practice other forms of corruption.

So it’s interesting to me that Caiaphas had been publicly prophesying that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation.  I don’t know when he started to make such pronouncements.  I wonder, had he been secretly reading the Psalms and other Messianic prophecies from Isaiah, Joel and Micah to determine if this Jesus was really sent from God?  Or was Caiaphas worried about the coming Passover festival--how to prevent any political trouble from the thousands of impressionable worshipers who might hear Jesus’ message of love, not law?  I hope he wasn’t trying to create a self-fulfilling prophecy just to keep his own power base intact.  “So from that day on they (Pharisees) plotted to take His life.” (v53, NIV).  By now, the odds were starting to stack against Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Father, Son and Holy Spirit, If I had been living during Christ’s short life, I hope I would have been on the side of the disciples and not part of the mob who chose to save Barabbas.  In my lifetime I am so grateful that your sacrifice redeemed all my sins.  Let me keep learning your Word and discerning your purpose for me, so that someday I might hear you call me “Friend.”  Amen.

Definition

Jeremiah 20:10-13

Gail Bobizen

When selecting this passage, I was struck by two key phrases: Terror is all around and the Lord is with me.  As I approach retirement and moving to Missouri, I sense some small degree of what Jeremiah felt.  There are a lot of unknowns in my future.  I'm moving to a small town where I know no one except the former owners of the property.  My brother is 40 miles away.  Uncertainty is all around.  I visited the Lutheran Church I will attend in a town 15 miles away.  It was not the positive experience I so wanted and expected, especially when compared to my wonderful experience here at Christ the King.  God, why did you lead me to Maysville? 

I tried to purchase a property closer to my brother, but the owners changed their mind about selling the home and a few acres.  If this had worked out, I would have been able to worship in the same church as my brother and sister-in-law (there was one problem with that though, they sit on the wrong side of the church).  I prayed for God to lead me where He could use me.  When I made an offer on the Maysville property, I prayed that if this was where God wanted me, that an agreement would be reached.  If not I prayed that God would lead me according to His will.  An offer was accepted.  God, why did you lead me to Maysville?

Amid the doubt and uncertainty, like Jeremiah, I know the Lord is with me.  I don't know why God has lead me to Maysville, but I trust that His plan for me will be revealed according to His time schedule.  We don't need to be besieged by enemies like Jeremiah to feel surrounded by troubles, illness, or fears.  We cannot escape the evils of this world, but Jeremiah also tells us in verse 12, "O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind."  Let us keep our heart and mind focused on the Lord, trust in Him, and willingly accept His guidance in our life so we like Jeremiah may, "Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord!  For He has delivered the life of the needy."

PRAYER: Heavenly Father,Thank you for Your constant presence in our lives.  When the cares of this world surround us, help us place our trust in You knowing that You will not forsake us.  Your love for us reaches out from the cross.  Let this message be present in our hearts not only during this Lenten season, but always.  This we pray in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus the Christ.   Amen

A Blessed Name

Genesis 17:3-9

Andrew Miner

What makes up a name? It could be the meaning, characteristic of the person, or even its place in history.  In Genesis 17: 3-9 God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and makes him  king of all nations.  God promises that Abraham will rule the land of Canaan and have many descendants.  I believe Abraham then lives his life as God has asked.  A modern day example of this would be of the recently graduated Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow.  An openly devote Christian athlete -- by marking bible verses on his eye black -- Tebow quickly became the king of the college football world.  His name symbolizes passion, enthusiasm, and love, not only for the game but also for humanity.  His kingdom is “the Swamp” and his descendants are his teammates and future players that will continue the rule of “the swamp.”  A name can bring out the best and the worst behavior in society.  Abraham’s connotation is that he was a holy friend of God with “as many children as there were stars”.  People rarely look to uncover the true promise that Abraham made with God which is to remain faithful to God.  Tebow’s name conjures up victorious imagery but some people choose to debase him with allegations that he’s too perfect.  Jesus was crucified because he was too perfect.  A name not only symbolizes a promise or a certain image but can also drive evil spirits into enemies’ hearts.  We must remember, as we talk about great persons, their true identity is what he or she thinks of them self.  With individuality of a name comes the potential need to overcome adversity from critics.  Jesus rose from the dead, Abraham was the ruler of Canaan and Tebow won two titles and a Heisman.

Prayer:  Dear God, let us recall every day what our name means to us and to others, as well as not to judge others by their names nor alienate them.  Amen.  

Cheer

John 8:31-42

Liz Spoto

It may seem simple, but not much can please me more than when my kids do what I ask, the first time I ask it.  Or when I see them make good choices based on things we’ve spoken about in the past.  I see that trust in their eyes. They trust that I’ve asked for a good reason; they trust that my advice or my living example to them is on the right course.  And that trust and obedience fills me up with such joy that I’m sometimes overwhelmed.  Now I won’t delude anyone into thinking that this is always the state of affairs in the Spoto household.  But when it is, boy does our family click.  Mark and I are happier.  That happiness shines down to the kids.  And everyone is in a better place. 

I have to imagine that this is what John talks about in Chapter 8: 31-42.  If our lives flow so smoothly, and such happiness results when our kids obey us, how much better our lives can be when we obey our Heavenly Father.  How great the rewards when we follow His Word and live to please Him….especially if we do it the first time He asks.

PRAYER:  Dear God, Please help us to obey your good and perfect will for us so that our lives may be filled with the happiness you intend for us.

Declaring to All

John 8:21-30

Sam Siebert

Earlier In chapter 8 of the book of John, Jesus explains how he is the light of the world.  The setting is in the Temple in Jerusalem during the feast of Tabernacles, a cerimony during which great golden lamps were lit.  The Pharisees skeptically question Jesus, based on the tennants of Jewish law.  It is in response to this questioning that Jesus explains that no amount of piety without faith in the son of God will save them from death.  It should not be lost that, in verse 30, John points out that "As he [Jesus] spoke, many believed him".  It is not lost on me that Jesus says in verse 21 that the Pharisees, those Jews most versed in religeous law, will seek Christ but fail to find faith and die, while these others came to believe and were saved.  These nine verses are a suscinct reminder that faith, the most difficult of Christian behaviors to master, not deeds, secures our salvation.

Prayer:  Dear God, strengthen and sustain my faith this day by helping me see your good works each day.  Help me open my heart to the Holy Spirit and allow me to serve you by serving others with grace and compassion.

The Word of God

Psalm 23

Julie Benson

I asked Liz Spoto for the March 22^nd devotion as it is my birthday.  When I saw that the subject was Psalm 23, I just smiled.  I know that one by heart.  So often I recite that in the dark of night and it brings me peace and calm and a great confidence in our God.  God so clearly tell us again and again “be not afraid.  I am with you”.  I can picture God sitting over on our loveseat in our bedroom just watching us sleep and protecting us.  It is such a comforting picture and it has reassured me many times.  When friends have become very, very sick ~ naturally we feel afraid for them and scared for our health also.  God is so caring and kind to keep telling us how not to be afraid for He walks with us no matter what happens.  He will be with us in sickness, in misery, in misfortune, in sadness/depression and in ALL situations.  He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep and we need to “lie down in green pastures” and know that all is well because He alone is in TOTAL CONTROL.  So the next time you are fearful or troubled with a problem ~ stop telling God how big your problems are and tell your problems how big your God is!  It works every time!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank you for your loving comfort, thank you for consoling us with all the challenges we face in this life.  Thank you that we can rest in you and know with great confidence that you will protect us, bless us and comfort us if only we will put our trust in You.  Thank you for your Word where we can go daily to be reassured and reminded of just how much you love us. Amen!

Repent

John 8:1-11

Lynne Roots

 “Repent” is a strong word.  There is such a sense of foreboding about it.  To soften it somewhat, Mr. Webster includes “contrite” in his several definitions of “repent” but, ”to feel so contrite over one’s sins as to change, or decide to change ones ways” is my favorite. 

The Bible reading for this devotional, John 8:1-11, shows the perfect contrast between the Old and New Testaments.  In the Old, the woman brought before Jesus for adultery would have been stoned….in the New, Jesus turns the situation around and puts the burden of the woman’s guilt on the Pharisees…”If any one of you is without sin, let him cast the first stone”.  And then, He tells the woman that He doesn’t condemn her either but that she is to “leave (her) life of sin”.  That is so Jesus…forcing us, through love, to look at ourselves. 

As much as we don’t like to admit it, we all have dirty laundry…just how dirty depends on your perspective.  What to one may be a major sin, to another may not be so.  But sin is sin, regardless of how big or small.  It doesn’t seem quite fair that all sin be lumped together….how can skirting the truth about a friend’s new outfit be compared to murder?  No, it may not be fair in our eyes, but the good news is that Jesus loves us no matter the scope of our sin.  So a person who has killed is as forgivable as one who told a little white lie.  The other piece of good news is that we don’t necessarily have to confess our sin to the world or anyone else for that matter as long as we recognize it and decide to do something about it.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to understand we are forgiven.