JOHN 13:18–22; PSALM 41:9–12 Holy Wednesday, or “Spy Wednesday,” is the Wednesday before Easter. Judas is believed to have betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin on that day. Jesus’ remarks in John 13:18 make it clear how painful Judas’ betrayal was. Jesus was hurt by a person who was close enough to him to share a meal. We have … [Read more…]
JOHN 13:18-30, 36-38 Jesus announced both Judas’ and Peter’s betrayals sequentially, which makes it easier for us to see the stark contrast between the two. Peter handed over his frailty to Jesus. He learned to put his faith in God’s goodness rather than his own shortcomings and strengths. When Peter said he would be loyal to Him … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 53:4-12 “A portrait is not a photograph, nor is it a mirror image,” claims Robert Henkes. The fundamental goal of a true artist is to convey the essence of the subject. Jesus has been portrayed in a great number of paintings throughout history. Because we do not have a picture or a mirror image of our … [Read more…]
PSALM 112; PROVERBS 14:26 A man described how his father, a second lieutenant in World War Two, was shot in the leg and suffered a serious injury. His dad never complained about it, and he never used it as a justification for not nurturing his family, despite the fact that he was never physically 100% again … [Read more…]
JOHN 16:1-11; 16:33 A woman tested herself in accounting for fun to see how she would do. The outcomes were just not good. She was incorrect in all of her responses. She failed because she had a flawed understanding of a basic banking concept at the onset. Her debits and credits were reversed. We occasionally mix up … [Read more…]
MARK 6:30-32,45-47 As we had settled into our hotel room, my friend began fiddling with the TV. “What do you do if you can only receive one channel and you do not like what is on that one?” he questioned angrily. I suggested, “You try turning it off.” That was not exactly the advice he had hoped for. … [Read more…]
ROMANS 8:28-30 When bad things happen, many people prefer to quote Romans 8:28. But in tough circumstances, it is indeed usually difficult to believe that. A man who had just lost his third son in a row asked, “How can this tragedy work for my good?” as we sat together. I was at a loss for … [Read more…]
PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11 I pay attention to grammar and spelling errors when I read a newspaper or magazine. I do not really look for mistakes; they just jump out at me! My typical response is to be critical of the publication and those who put it together. Why do they not employ a proofreader or use grammar checking? … [Read more…]
PROVERBS 18:1-8, 20-21 Nelson Mandela, who battled the South African apartheid regime and was imprisoned for almost three decades, understood the strength of words. He is often quoted today, yet while he was in prison, his words could not be quoted by the people for fear of being punished. Ten years after being freed, he declared: … [Read more…]
1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-27 Someone once said a rolling-ball clock in the British Museum provided a striking example of how routine can weary a man’s mind. The steel ball made about 2,500 miles of back-and-forth travel each year, but it never truly went anywhere. When we are unable to discern a greater goal, it is simple for us … [Read more…]
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