Daily Digest

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. The Death of Jesus 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

“I am thirsty”

I’ve often wondered why this small detail was mentioned in the Bible. What does it mean? Especially since, in another account of Jesus’ crucifixion in Matthew 27:34, He tastes the vinegar/myrrh mixture (basically a sedative) and rejects it. I wonder if this was a different thirst that Jesus was experiencing.

The Holy Spirit is described as a flowing river of water for those who are thirsty (See John 7;37-39). Was that the thirst Jesus was missing?

The same verse in the passage above gives us a clue here – “later, knowing that EVERYTHING had now been finished”…v28.

Everything.

All of my sin. All of my rebellion and rejection of God’s authority in my life. All the desperate dryness of my sin and my separation from God – that permeates my whole being – was heaped on Jesus. No wonder He was thirsty?

Are you thirsty? Are you dry inside? A dryness that comes when God is not in your life? You don’t need to be! Jesus has come to take that dryness for you. Just come to Him today and drink.

Jesus, my sin and rejection of you has made me dry and I don’t want to live like that anymore. Thanks for dying in my place and taking my everything onto yourself. Please pour the water of your presence into my life now. I need it.

Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. 33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” 40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

In this passage, Pilate concludes Jesus is innocent and tells the crowd that he finds no charges. When he asks if he should free Jesus, the crowd shout back a giant ‘NO!’ and request for Barabbas instead. If this were me, I would feel so let down knowing that the governor believes I am not guilty but has chosen to follow the crowd. However, this is no surprise to Jesus as he knows this is exactly would what happen. He knows he needs to go through this penalty, so all of humanity can be saved.

When reading the passage again, I am also reminded of the way that Jesus informs Pilate that he is from another kingdom that is ‘not of this world’. This encourages me to always stay kingdom focused and reveal God’s truth in whatever way I can, even in the worst of situations. It reminds me that while living on earth, my life should reveal his truth everywhere I go and I should speak his truth to all that I can.

God, I thank you that you sent Jesus as a sacrifice not only for me, but for all. I pray that you continue to reveal your truth to us, so that we may live our best lives that honour you.

Written by Rachel Tomc

18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” 12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him (verse 4) and yet, he went to a familiar place that his betrayer (Judas) knew (verse 2). Jesus did not hide. When they came near he asked them “Who is it you want?” They replied “Jesus” and he said “I am he”. Twice he asked them and twice he identified himself. No mix up of identity or communications here.

On the first occasion of him identifying himself, those coming to take him fell over backwards onto the ground. This is Jesus, “I am”, the all-powerful Son of God.

Jesus wanted no violence. He was not hiding. He clearly identified himself and he handed himself over to his accusers.

In John 10:11 Jesus said, I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.

Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God, knew all that was going to happen to him, and he willingly gave up his life for all.

 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

What a prophetic statement, the Jewish leader Caiaphas unknowingly made, “Better that one should die for all” (verse 14).

Jesus thank you for giving up your life for me. I am so grateful, forever indebted, that you choose to die so that I may have eternal life. Help me to live my life for you each and every day.

Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

What Jesus prays grows out of the fact that He is going away.  He is entrusting the disciples to the Father He has known and loved throughout His own earthly life, the Father who, He knows, will care for them every bit as much as He has done Himself.  He is aware that the disciples are at risk.  The world, which hates them as it hated Him, will threaten and abuse them.  They don’t belong to it, but they are to be sent into it, and they need protecting.  That’s what the prayer is about.  Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

A sense of opposition, persecution and suffering are part and parcel of the Christian faith – not because we do the wrong things (we should live righteous, pure, blameless lives) or believe wrong concepts (we follow the One who is the Truth) – but because we are followers of Jesus – who Himself was opposed, persecuted, and suffered.  We have an adversary, the devil, and we should never be surprised by these opposing forces.  So join James and count it all joy when various trials come upon you – James 1:2

Father help me to live in such a manner that you are truly glorified by my lifestyle.  Help me to endure hardship, opposition, suffering and persecution as a good soldier of Christ (2 Tim. 2:3)!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Jesus promises his followers that one day (soon) all the troubles and confusion they are experiencing will be swept aside. Like a woman who has just birthed a baby and now holds the newborn for the first time, all the momentary pain is forgotten and they are carried into a new realm of joy. With this as context, Jesus proposes a radical new way to talk to God. The disciples are to use his name when asking God for what they want and it’s as good as done. Surely this is way too radical to take at face value? Jesus’s bold invitation seems to open the gates to excess or abuse. Consider: what were the disciples of Jesus likely to insert into this invitation?

* ‘overthrow the Romans’, or
* ‘give us our nation and land back’, or
* ‘re-fill the temple with God’s glory’, or
* ‘expel the foreigners from amongst our midst’

Via this shift in focus and with the confidence that Jesus is true to his word ‘Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ was fulfilled to the disciples just as it is fulfilled to us, today.  Jesus answered their prayers and delivered on their concerns, but via the resurrection. Are not our requests basically connected to exactly the same human aches, desire for significance, place to belong, need for daily bread, need for family, an identity. Jesus will give us all that we need and more!

Jesus, thank you for hearing my prayers and thank you for allowing me to ask you directly for what I want. Thank you that you always answer, always keep your promises and satisfy my hearts desire.
Till we meet face to face, Amen.

Written by Sam Stewart

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Reading this passage I am filled with both hope but also dread.  No one wants to be hated, suffer and struggle in life through judgment because of his or her faith. Jesus is sharing this right before he goes to the cross.  He knows what is coming, Judas has already left to betray him, he knows that it is just a matter of time before Peter denies him and God, the Father, turns from him on the cross.  Jesus knows what is coming but uses this opportunity to encourage his disciples and now us, that we will suffer for our faith just as he did but that we can take heart because he is with us.

The passage just before discusses that Jesus is the True Vine and that when we remain and abide in him we bear much fruit however it is well known that the best grapes for wine are from plants that have suffered in life.  It is often the oldest vines, the ones who have gone through droughts, fires etc that produce the tastiest wine.   We as Christ followers will suffer for our faith however it is through this suffering that what is inside of us comes out and fruit is produced.   Jesus in verse 26 talks about the Advocate who he is sending to help us and who will testify about Jesus through us.  I love this.  That Jesus knew we weren’t ever going to be able to walk through the suffering and the hatred of this world alone so he sent the Holy Spirit to be the advocate.  The one who will support us throughout our afflictions.

Lord, I thank you that whatever I walk through, you understand it because you walked far greater suffering.  Help me to surrender to you and allow you to use me in great ways for your kingdom.  Help me remember that you have sent the advocate to live in me to represent you to this world. In Jesus name! Amen

Written by Ps. Annique Botta

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.

What is striking to me in this passage is how Jesus frames His and the Father’s works in the world. Jesus foretells His going to be with the Father that we, His disciples, may believe. The prince of the world (the devil) comes so that the world may learn about Jesus’ loving devotion to the Father.

Jesus is declaring here that no matter whether it’s His own activity or the enemies activity, God can and does use it all to help us believe in and know Him. God truly does make everything work together for our good, especially the good of our faith in Him. It’s quite humbling really – God is constantly at work to help us believe Him.

Praise you Jesus, that as Lord, you are at work to help us know you and understand you, even when it is evil coming into the picture!

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

I love the way Jesus begins and ends this passage with encouraging instructions, and in the middle tells us why we can believe in what He says.

I don’t think there is anyone in existence who has not been troubled by something or needed something that is beyond them – I know that I certainly have. And often I allow myself to be overwhelmed by these troubles and needs. It almost seems too good to be true to simply bring these troubles and needs to Jesus and expect Him to actually do anything about them. Yet Jesus explains that He carries the very authority and heart of God – He is not only able to help, but He is eager to.

So often my first response to fear, worry, trouble or need is to try and find a solution, when I could be bringing these to Jesus instead and trusting Him to sort them out on my behalf. While we have responsibility to do our best & take the steps we can – in the authority of God that He has given us – we can trust that when we bring what we need to Jesus, He is on the case. Admittedly His response may not look like what we have pictured, however we can trust that He is at work for our good. He is the way, truth and life for each of us – He will not leave us where we are but will meet us where we are at in order to bring glory to God.

Thank you Jesus that you are willing and able to hear our prayers & to meet our needs. Thank you that because you are in control and you are good, we can bring our troubles to you & trust that you are working on our behalf, bringing glory to God.

Written by Ps. Madelaine Tarasenko

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I find this a challenging scripture: “For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you” I have heard this said – “Jesus died for you and for me; our role (as a Christian) is to lay our lives down for our community and for others”.

To demonstrate that WE love; like CHRIST loves us.

What it tells me is that my life is “on show” – my actions, my responses and my voice should look like Christ.

Sacrificial love is something that many of us find hard at times.

We are called to give up our time, sometimes our convenience, our personal desires, our money, and lay these down for others.

Which reminds me of the scripture “If anyone would come after me, let him/her deny himself/herself and take up your cross daily”. (Luke 9 v 23)

It is something that is not easy at times and is not commonly encouraged in the ‘world’.  In a world that biases itself towards selfishness we have to be people who ‘swim’ in the other direction.  In a world that biases itself towards hate, we have to be an expression of love.  It is not easy to swim upstream; it requires effort.

Lord help me to demonstrate you better.  Help me with my actions, my responses and my voice to reflect you.  Lord at times I struggle, but you can give me strength in all things. Thank you for the opportunities you desire to bring across my path, to let me be a demonstration of your love and grace towards me.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

What a historically and eternally significant moment we read about here. Jesus and the disciples are looking back and celebrating how God saved the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. Jesus is looking to the near future where He will be sacrificed to save all who believe in Him from sin and death.

In this highly important moment, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. He cleanses them physically, when He’s about to cleanse them spiritually. But I love how everyday this is, how human the need to have our dirty feet washed. Jesus is not spouting lofty ideas, divorced from our skin and bone existence. No, He takes off His outer robe, wraps a towel around His waist and washes the dirty, smelly feet of those who follow Him.

As Jesus was preparing to face the agony of the cross, He was still focused on His mission of teaching His disciples God’s way of selfless love and servanthood. If Jesus could love others in this moment, then I am challenged to do the same, no matter what my circumstances are.

Jesus, please help me to receive your love for me, your willingness to wash my dirty feet and be near to those dirty parts of my inner world that need cleansing. Fill me with your love for others, that I too would folllow your example and wash the dirty feet of those around me. Amen.

Written by Ps. Beth Waugh

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Verse 47 is just so good…

If I hear Jesus’ words, and don’t follow them, he doesn’t judge me. He’s come to save me – not judge me.

But He has every right to judge me. He made me. He made everything. I’ve destroyed His creation – I’ve rejected Him. I’ve said to Him “I’m the boss of me! I know what’s best for me! Get out!” Yet He still extends His hand of acceptance and forgiveness to me. Why? How can this be possible? This is mercy that I can’t wrap my head around.

The problem though, is time. The time is coming when there will be no more time. When that happens there is a Judge – His verdict will be based on what I’ve decided to do with Jesus’ words. Whether I’ve accepted them or rejected them.

The question is time. What will I do right now? Will I run the gauntlet of time and hope I’ll choose to follow Jesus at the very end? (And forfeit the amazing life He had planned for me all along?) Or will I soften my heart today (see Duet 30:19) and say “ok Jesus”?

Jesus, I’m done with rejecting you. I am amazed at your mercy and patience with me. I choose to follow you today.

Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

As I read this section of scripture, the glaring theme here is also one of the most important concepts that can ever be answered – What did Christ really come to earth for?

I have myself explored this question at various stages in my life. Was it to give us an example of how to live, or to teach us wisdom from heaven? He certainly did those things, but was it the main reason?

Did he come to perform miracles; to get the lame to walk, and to bring sight to the blind?

Did he come to bring about repentance amongst the generations who lived in his time?

Was he a man, or God, or bits of each, or somehow fully both? This passage suggests that he prayed that he would bring glory to the Father, but how?

If you are reading this, you will likely know that the answer, the true answer is that Christ died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved for our sin. In doing this, we who trust and believe in Christ can be in a place of right standing with God.

This passage, and others in the gospels, suggest that Christ knew that this was his mission – to die for the sins of the world. He certainly executed it perfectly and he positioned himself along the way to ensure that his mission would not just be a moment in time, but that the news of his success – vital for the salvation of the world – would spread across the entire earth.

But all of this, while wonderful to think about and understand is only part of the deal for me. Yes, God loves me for who I am and in spite of my sin, but he also, out of that love calls me into a responsibility to be part of Christ’s mission!

It isn’t always clear to me how I am to act day-to-day, how much sleep I should get and how many hours I need to be spending doing certain tasks etc, but one thing is clear – I have a responsibility to make sure that the successful mission of Christ reaches further and further into the lives of everyone around me, so that this world can be truly changed by His amazing grace.

Father, help me to never lose sight of the mission that we are on together.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

The news of the miracle of Lazarus spread like wildfire! The Pharisees were shocked by the huge crowd which greeted Jesus when he came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. In v.19 [TPT] they said, “We won’t be able to stop this! The whole world is going to run after Him”.

If we look at Zechariah 9:9 we learn that the victorious kings would ride on a war horse through the city streets. So, Jesus moved to reassure the crowd by declaring, “People of Zion have no fear! Look – it’s your king coming to you….!” [v.13]

As observers of this remarkable event, the disciples didn’t fully understand its significance until afterwards when they realised that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies about him.

Traditionally we now observe this event as Palm Sunday. Then, it was the high point of the popularity of Jesus after the resurrection of Lazarus.

The more significant aspect of this pivotal event was that Jesus referred to Himself as their king. His kingdom was to be established through his mission on earth. Every person who is born again of the Spirit enters into this royal kingdom and takes on a royal status in Christ. Let us take up the excitement of the crowd in Jerusalem and sing his praises daily. He is our King, we are his royal subjects! So enjoy your royal status!

We acknowledge your kingdom Jesus, and desire to spend our days in praise and worship of our King. How majestic is he who came in the name of the Father.

Written by Keith Bennett

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Over January we have been learning and hearing from God about the Holy Spirit.  How incredible to think that Jesus says in this passage “anyone who is thirsty can come”; however those who believe “can come and drink”.   Every person is invited to COME to Jesus; but only those who believe can COME and DRINK.  “the scriptures declare that ‘rivers of living water will flow from His heart.”

In this hot weather over summer it has reminded me afresh that people become dry and thirsty in tough conditions.  People in our community are dry and thirsty for truth, for honesty, for integrity, for freedom, for purity, for grace, for a message that brings life, hope and a future.

I have thought about this – what can I do to help people see the “river of Christ’s hope in me”?  I can remove blockages, I can focus my heart and my mind on Christ, I can pray for release and freedom.  I can think less about myself and my circumstances and focus more about how God can use me.

Lord help me to see others better and clearer.  Give me the skill and ability to connect with others and help them to see you.  Help me to be a river of living water this year.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta