'Jesus' Tagged Posts (Page 10)
A Long Time Coming
A Long Time Coming Daily Devotion for Advent | Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Abraham was the father of Isaac … (Matthew 1:2a) “Abraham was the father of Isaac …” If there’s one verse in the New Testament Abraham would have loved to read ahead of time, it’s probably this one. God reached out to a childless man in the ancient Middle East and promised, “I will make of you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2-3). God kept that promise when Isaac…
Who Cares?
Who Cares? Daily Devotion for Advent | Tuesday, December 4, 2018 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) The book of Matthew starts with an odd choice of subject matter—42 generations of Jesus’ genealogy, all the way back to Abraham. Some people find this fascinating. Other people are probably yawning and saying under their breath, “Who cares?” Apparently, God cares. God cares enough to give us a list of…
Enemies
Enemies Daily Devotion for Advent | Monday, December 3, 2018 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15) Can being enemies ever be a good thing? Normally my answer would be “No.” We learn even as children that it’s not good to be enemies with other people. Our parents tell us, “Say you’re sorry,” and “Be nice and…
Accomplished Among Us
Accomplished Among Us Daily Devotion for Advent | Sunday, December 2, 2018 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us (Luke 1:1) Luke is a very methodical man. He does his research, and he talks to eyewitnesses. And he pins down dates and places and people in great detail. As far as Luke is concerned, there is no such thing as being too careful where the story of Jesus is…
What Child Is This?
From the Desk of Pastor Mech Prepare to share glad tidings of comfort and joy, of a Savior who has been born to us, who is Christ, the Lord! Our Advent and Christmas focus will be shaped by a familiar Christmas hymn. The author of the series, Rev. Ralph Tausz, provides the context: The birth of a certain child two thousand years ago in Bethlehem prompted a poet in the nineteenth century to ask a very un common question in…
Now What?
Now What? Daily Devotion for Easter | Easter Monday, April 2, 2018 Read Luke 24:1-11. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. (Mark 16:1) Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t have time to do a proper burial for Jesus that Friday evening. Though they did the best they could, the women who followed Jesus were not satisfied. They planned to come back early Sunday morning…
A Homely Beginning
A Homely Beginning Daily Devotion for Lent | Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018 | Holy Week Read John 20:1-9. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. (John 20:6-7) It seems so tidy, somehow. When the disciples look into the tomb, they see the linen cloths…
Access To The Father
Access To The Father Daily Devotion for Lent | Good Friday, March 30, 2018 | Holy Week Read Luke 23:44-46. And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Mark 15:37-38) Imagine what it would feel like to be a priest going about your duties in the temple that Friday, getting ready for the Sabbath. You would be doing it nervously, in near-darkness—the sun’s light…
For You
For You Daily Devotion for Lent | Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018 | Holy Week Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. (Jesus said) “This is My body, which is for you….This cup is the new covenant in My blood….” (1 Corinthians 11:24b-25a) “I need a hug,” my son says to me when he’s having a bad day. “Can you hold my hand?” a child asks her mother, standing in line for an amusement park ride. “Stay with me, don’t leave me,” beg…
Are You Sure He’s Dead?
Are You Sure He’s Dead? Daily Devotion for Lent | Wednesday, March 28, 2018 | Holy Week Read John 19:31-37. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (John 19:34) They wanted to be sure He was dead. So one of the soldiers took a spear and stabbed Jesus in the side, bringing out a flow of blood and water. This was good proof He was dead, because…
The Nails
The Nails Daily Devotion for Lent | Tuesday, March 27, 2018 | Holy Week Read John 20:24-28. But he (Thomas) said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25b) As a carpenter and builder, Jesus would have known the use of nails. Nails were expensive; if a wooden peg would do instead,…
Whose Cross?
Whose Cross? Daily Devotion for Lent | Monday, March 26, 2018 | Holy Week Read Mark 15:21-25. So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. (John 19:16b-17) After Jesus had been flogged, mocked, and condemned, they took Him out on the road to Golgotha, carrying His own cross. Now the cross was probably what we would call the crosspiece only—the patibulum.…