QT 2/29/2024 Ps 32:1-5, Cleaned through and through

Psalm 32:1–5 (ESV) —

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

 

NOTE: Ultimately, the greatest sense of peace is found in salvation. But there is also the day-to-day living where it is important to confess sins. Saving faith is 100 percent effective, but the guilt of the daily failures, emotional responses, and just plain sin still needs cleansing. We feel weighed down like David, "my bones waste away … your hand was heavy upon me." Repentance equals forgiveness and heals a soul. It is different from salvation, and yet similar, and very much needed.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my relationship with God affected by unconfessed sin?

 

PRAYER: Father, as David once prayed, search me O God and know my heart, try me and test my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way within me. I am a sinful man, saved by a loving God.

QT 2/28/2024 Ps 25:1-7, We need mercy to cover our shame

Psalm 25:1–7 (ESV) —

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

 

NOTE: It's hard to pray like David, "let me not be put to shame," when sometimes you feel so lousy over something that happened. You put your foot in your mouth or said something you should not have about another person, and so on. We are all such sinners, although we tend to hide sin even from ourselves … "oh, I said that because I wanted to help the person." We justify gossip. We justify our "white" lies, which are still lies (with no qualifiers attached). "Remember your mercy" should be our life song. Where would we be without God's mercy and also God's grace? Remember, mercy is not getting what you deserve and grace is getting what you don't deserve.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing that I need God's mercy and forgiveness?

 

PRAYER: Father, have mercy on me. I need you in my weakness.

QT 2/27/2024 Ps 24:1-6, Unworthy to the core

Psalm 24:1–6 (ESV) —

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

2 for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the Lord

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

 

NOTE: "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?" The answer is no one who does not have faith. Because none of us meet the standards listed here. No one has clean hands and a pure heart. No one has ever not lied or misled another. We are all sinners unworthy of a relationship with God and only worthy of Hell. But, by faith God made many righteous in OT times, and today has made many righteous by faith in Jesus. He is our righteousness. He is pure. We have traded our unrighteousness for his righteousness. We have put on new clothes of shimmering white depicting our new righteousness in Jesus. We should stand in awe on that holy hill because we shouldn't be there. Seek God. Seek his face and by faith you can stand on that holy hill with thousands who have gone before us.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I think I have any righteousness in myself to earn the favor of God? Then I am a fool.

 

PRAYER: Father, I am unworthy of all that you have done. Even today, transformed and different, I am still unworthy except for Jesus. Be merciful to me and help me to share this incredible message with others.

QT 2/26/2024 Ps 23:1-6, Learning to slow down

Psalm 23:1–6 (ESV) —

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

 

NOTE: This is one of the most treasured psalms of the faith. There is so much to like and one could write many devotionals from each verse. I am going to tie together two phrases from verses 2 and 3, "He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul." I think one of the tactics of the enemy is to make life more frenetic. We have more leisure time than ever, and we are more exhausted than ever. A popular country music song lyrics read,

 

I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

 

We have forgotten how to rest. And I don't mean sitting on a couch watching TV. That is a hobby, but that is not rest. What is rest? It is sitting down. It is getting to bed on time. But best is finding a quiet place to contemplate life, read the scriptures, and pray silently -- all without any interruptions. Real rest recharges our batteries, it restores the soul. The other things are fakes to keep us engaged or busy without really slowing down. We do the unimportant and urgent things, putting off time for quiet meditation.

 

Another slightly related item is, "You prepare a table before me …." Although this is in presence of David's enemies, eating with family and friends can also restore and heal relationships. I'm convinced that God created meals for more than physical sustenance.

 

PONDER:

1. How often do I find a quiet place away from distractions where I can just contemplate life?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to slow down and appreciate beauty and your presence. I don't want to be in a hurry, I want to be in your will.

QT 2/23/2024 Rom 20:1-9, God is not our servant

Psalm 20:1–9 (ESV) —

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support from Zion!

3 May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he grant you your heart’s desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!

May he answer us when we call.

 

NOTE: This Psalm repeatedly uses the phrase "May he …" suggesting that none of the prayer requests are guaranteed to be answered in the way which we might want. God is not our genie. He answers the prayers that are according to his will and achieve the purpose he desires for us and for those around us affected by those answers. It is nice when the two align, that is, when our prayers align with his will for our life. Yes, those are sweet times. But just like prayer, where we seek to (at times) manipulate God to do our will, so our own strength, represented by those who trust in chariots and horses, is another attempt to get our way. Rather, we should trust in the name of the Lord that however he answers (and we should pray), we can be confident that he sees the big picture and he is doing something grand.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that I am the servant? God is not the servant, I am.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know many of my prayers are selfish and only focused on my needs. Help me to get rid of those prayers, and pray things that are in accordance with your will.

QT 2/21/2024 Ps 16:1-11, Lines falling in pleasant places

Psalm 16:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,

in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

NOTE: This is a beautiful psalm of David. Over the years, many of the verses have provided comfort and encouragement. In particular, verses 5-6: I have a portion and lot where the lines are already pre-determined. I have free will, but if I choose to follow God's will, and not my own, the result will be pleasant. I suppose the real difficulty is separating what I want in life from what God has determined is best. I don't want to fight God. I want to walk with him. What is the best way forward? First, I think it starts with daily time in the word of God. There must be communication with our Father. This once or twice a week listening to God is not a relationship and only tells us that we are more interested in following our will and not God's will. Second, there must be a giving away of the things that the world counts as ours. A healthy giving program is a must. And not ten percent -- for the poor that is a good goal, but for the rich, that is stealing from God to salve our conscious:

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The only time Jesus ever used the word "tithe" was when he was referring to the practice of Pharisees. Third, sacrificing my time to serve others. If life is not lived for others, then we don't understand life and the joys of life and community. We are selfish in our sin-stained body. Everything it wants to do is pretty much a recipe of what not to do. Now, that is certainly an overstatement but not as far from truth as we would like it to be.

 

PONDER:

1. What is most important to me according to my schedule and my faithfulness? The answer to that question reveals my true heart.
2. Why do I do the things that I do? What is my real motivation?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am far from where I want to be, but I know what I need to be doing. I thank you for the consistent time for you. I thank you for giving and how it has changed my life. I thank you that I understand the importance of serving. Thanks for the opportunity today to serve a friend. I need to do more of the latter and I ask for help to follow through on that commitment.

QT 2/20/2024 Ps 15:1-5, Having a sane estimate of self so that we don't abuse others

Psalm 15:1–5 (ESV) —

1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the Lord;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

 

NOTE: The verse speaks to a person who does what is right, does not slander, does not take up reproach, honors those who fear God, swears to his own hurt, does not change his word, does not make money off his brothers, and does not take bribes. To a certain degree, this is a warning to the rich. The poor can't lend money and often times, society ignores their testimony. Slander is less effective coming from the poor because the world does not seem them as important. And honor bestowed from the poor is not seen in the same light as honor coming from the rich. Jesus spoke against this class-focused approach to life, but it still remains the default position of most people. We look up to the rich and look down on the poor, which in turn causes the rich to be prideful and to use the power of riches in an evil manner. So, going back to the question, "who shall dwell on God's holy hill?" certainly the rich are in danger of missing out on that reward.

 

How do we avoid the dangers of the rich attitude? I think giving away our money is a good antidote. Also, in at least in my interactions with others, I must always have the attitude, that each and every person is smarter and more important than me. Others might disagree on that statement, but for me, it is very important. I am prideful and I think of myself too highly. I am not a reservoir of knowledge. I don't know all things. I am not really rich, it can all be gone in an instant. People, each and every one, are important, more important than me. Some may take offense at that attitude, but for me it is necessary.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I misuse my position or power?
2. Do I believe I am more important than those around me?

 

PRAYER: Father, all that I am and all that I have is your gift. I am nothing in this life, but what you have brought about. I have no reason to boast except in my savior, Jesus. I want to be meek and loving toward others, expressing the fruit of the Spirit in all my interactions.

QT 2/19/2024 Ps 8:3-9, God's Majesty is beyond our ability to grasp

Psalm 8:3–9 (ESV) —

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

NOTE: Majesty is a term reserved for kings. Usually, there is the association of grand castles, lands, and finely arrayed armies. It is a human attempt to beautify rulership with the best that human hands, minds, and strength can do. God's majesty is beyond description. His work -- the heavens, the moon, and the stars defy our imaginations. We can see it but we cannot grasp it, because it is beyond our ability to truly appreciate. It is too great and too amazing. Our finite minds reach a limit, and so we begin to compare to things we can grasp, like a castle, a painting, or a vast army. The comparisons are incredibly weak, but because both fill up our mind, they seem similar.

 

God's majesty is beyond what we can understand, see, or grasp. It is a beauty that would fill an infinite amount of lifetimes just to see it all. And in the midst of all this majesty, is man, created by the infinite God. Man is small and lowly, and yet given dominion over his creation. How amazing that God has lifted man up so high on earth. And how unworthy we are for this honor.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly understand how little I understand?
2. Have I ever thanked God for how he has lifted me up (in the recognition that I am so unworthy)?

 

PRAYER: Father, you are unmeasurable. Your majesty is beyond my grasp, and as great as anything I have ever seen or imagined. I am nothing, and yet I am a son of the King, with a glorious inheritance and role in your kingdom. I am so unworthy of the grace and mercy extended to me.

QT 2/16/2024 Psalm 4:1-8, The west is blinded by delusion

Psalm 4:1–8 (ESV) —

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

 

3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

 

5 Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

 

NOTE: It seems nothing changes. People today still seek after lies. They don't want to hear the truth. The prefer vain words about how great our society is, when the rot and stench is overwhelming. As we move farther from God, we have only moved into more stress, more pain, more dysfunction, more anger, and more stink. We look for people to show us some good, politicians who will save us, or even our image of god who will make our sinful life happy. We go to alcohol and the abundance of food to make life a little better, all the time ignoring the only real answer to our hurts and pains. We need to repent of our sins and our rebellion from God. We need to return to the God of the bible and put our faith in his Son who died in our place to rescue us from the cesspool where we live. The days grow short, will we wake up before it is too late?

 

PONDER:

1. Where is my hope? Do I believe the society, science, and man will bring about a glorious future?
2. Am I willing to bury my pride and seek the only person who has ever truly loved me, God?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes while there is still time to repent and find salvation. Revive our spirits. Change us into people worthy of your name.

QT 2/15/2024 Ps 3:1-6, Faith and rest

Psalm 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 O Lord, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me;

2 many are saying of my soul,

“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept;

I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

 

NOTE: David has been cast out of Jerusalem by his son Absalom's revolt. He is running for his life and the lives of those around him. Most observers think that "there is no salvation for him in God," so effective has Absalom's deceit and wooing of the people. But David's answer is prayer. Spurgeon writes "… for God to hear is, according to Scripture, the same thing as to answer." And as a consequence David "lay down and slept." In the midst of all the pain and struggle, in the midst of all the stress and fear, David slept well. Why? Because he had faith in God. He prayed and God had already answered. But here is the key that most people miss. Faith and praying does not mean that we will get what we want. Faith is believing that God cares and will do the absolute best thing for my life and his purpose. David could lose the upcoming battle, but he could also rest in complete confidence that is God's best for him. Faith is not getting what you want, but believing that God cares for you. He knows you and he has not forgotten you. God did provide victory for David, but not because he prayed for it, because God knew what was best for David.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my faith such that I can rest completely assured that God knows what is best?
2. Or do I see prayer as some kind of Santa Claus list that I force upon God to do my will?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray to rest in your care and not my worries. I give to your my concerns, fears, and desires. I believe that you love me and will do what is best for my life.

QT 2/14/2024 Ps 1:1-3, Healthy versus unhealthy progression

Psalm 1:1–3 (ESV) —

1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

 

NOTE: There is an interesting progression that occurs in verse one, the man is first walking, then standing, and lastly sitting. While he is walking, the wicked are trying to counsel him, give him advice. Next, he is standing and engaging sinners in a discussion -- He is listening to their advice. Finally, he has taken his seat with them and is scoffing at the believers who walk by -- who believe it is best to follow God.  How do we reverse this? The first step is the word of God, delighting and meditating in it. So few people truly read the word of God every day. They read devotionals, but they don't read the scriptures. The word of God is a tremendously powerful book that will completely transform a person's life if he will only dig into it daily. As you get into the word of God, the effect is that of a tree near a streams where a tree's roots can reach out and have a constant refreshing source of water. Three things happen in contrast to the previous three. I think this is chiastic,  that is, the psalmists walks back the previous three. This is very common form of Jewish writing. So the last stage is fruit in every season, the stage prior is that the leaf doesn't wither, and the first stage is the person begins to prosper (not financially, but in all ways) in life. When life has joy is when you are starting to search the scriptures (walking). When you stand, and start to study the scriptures, you don't wither, you can take on the storms of life. When you sit, really allow the scriptures to take over your life, you produce fruit. Instead of scoffing, you are giving good advice (fruit) to others.

 

PONDER:

1. As regards to the scripture, what group am in, the sinners, or those who meditate on God's word DAILY?
2. As regards to the level or stage, what is happening with my life? Am I heading toward scoffing or producing fruit?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the power of your word to transform my life and others. The enemy has been very effective at making people think they are too busy to spend time in your word, and yet it is the most important thing we can possibly do for our souls. Teach me through your word.

QT 2/12/2024 Mark 16:9-13, A poorly written script if made up

Mark 16:9–13 (ESV) —

9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

 

NOTE: Why did everyone not believe? Why was it a woman chosen first to see Jesus? Why was it a woman who believed whereas most of the men did not believe? Why? Because, the story is true and not made up. This is what happens in the real world. If the story was made up, the script would have been written much differently by the people of that time. The heroes and leaders would have been the first to hear. They would have immediately believed. And they would have gone to their death never denying their story. The latter is pretty difficult if it is only a story. No one likes to die early. All but one of the apostles died early because they refused to deny the truth. Some disciples, like Stephen, died within a year of the resurrection.

 

Acts 7:54–60 (ESV) — 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

There is no excuse a logical person can make. A person does not believe because they do not want to believe.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I searched the scriptures honestly, not looking for contradictions, but believing it is true and then understanding what I read? Our presumptions make all the difference.

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to share my faith boldly and respectfully. Give me the words to answer those who truly seek. Help me to see those who don't truly want to believe.

QT 2/9/2024 Mark 16:1-8, He is risen -- the most important statement ever made in history

Mark 16:1–8 (ESV) —

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

NOTE: Wow, just picture yourself as one of the women. The rush to bury Jesus had robbed them of the time to apply the spices. They discussed somewhat mundane items of getting into the tomb only to find the stone rolled away, and I assume the soldiers gone. Then someone is sitting in the tomb, clothed in white, and telling them not to fear. He says that Jesus is risen and will meet them in Galilee. Do you cry or scream with joy or wonder what trick is being played upon you? What does it all mean? Where is Jesus' body? What is happening? Who will believe our story? Even though Jesus did tell them that he would be killed and rise from the dead, that story was probably interpreted in some symbolic or futuristic day. But here it is, it happened. I would be scared to death, giddy with excitement, and in tears, for my savior is alive (or at least I hope). What a story to tell. Oh, and they forgot to get the name of the young man who told them so. Are all angels young? Will we return to our young selves when we receive our new bodies. The bible is clear that when people die the do NOT become angels, but Jesus does say that we will be like them in certain ways.

 

PONDER:

What does this story do to your heart when you read it and place yourself in the moment? If it doesn't emotionally affect you, do you really know the savior?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for what you did. The story is awesome because it was so unexpected. A person has never risen from the dead. This is the one fact, later verified by many individuals, that should cause every person who honestly wants to know the truth to seriously consider Jesus' words and his claims. Open people's eyes who seek to find this immeasurable gift.

QT 2/8/2024 Mark 15:42-47, More threatening historical facts

Mark 15:42–47 (ESV) —

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

 

NOTE: As to the "swoon" theory, that is not a new thought or something the Romans forgot to check. When the big guy asks if he is dead already, you make sure he is dead already before answering. This is probably what caused the Centurion to put the spear up into the body from the lower abdomen into the heart. The Romans were very experienced at crucifying people. They knew all the tricks. And they knew if you pierced into the heart you would see copious amounts of water and blood rush out. Jesus was certainly dead. There was no swooning. No, the only explanation for his being alive on Sunday was that he had risen from the dead. He is the first and he is the promise that we too will have new bodies and we will also arise from the dead. There is no other explanation except the checking of a person's brain at the door in order to deny the facts.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I willing to consider the historical facts?
2. Or are the facts too threatening to consider?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have a sure salvation. Jesus' death, the burial, and the resurrection, and the eyewitnesses cannot be ignored. You have done the impossible.

QT 2/7/2024 Mark 15:33-39, The crucifixion happened as did the events surrounding it

Mark 15:33–39 (ESV) —

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

 

NOTE: Jesus' death opened access to God. Figuratively and in actuality, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. As the darkness lifted in the ninth hour, Jesus died, and a Gentile, a Roman Centurion, proclaimed, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" Atheists like to scoff that Jesus never said he was the Son of God, which is not true, but even if it was, certainly everyone else knew his claim, even a Roman soldier. Jesus died for Jew and Gentile, for slave and free man, for male and female. Jesus took all of our sins upon himself, and God the Father turned his face from God the Son because he could not look upon sin. The events, darkness for three hours, the tearing of the curtain, and also an earthquake (not mentioned in Mark) were all signs that something unique in human history was occurring. It happened. Eyewitnesses chose death over denying the facts. So, the question remaining is what do we do with the truth?

 

PONDER:

1. What does Jesus' crucifixion mean to me?
2. How do I respond to the historical facts surrounding the event? Do I pick and choose what I believe -- a lazy man's approach to fact?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am so thankful that my sins, past - present - future, were paid on the cross. My life was redeemed. And I, unworthy me, have the promise of a glorious future. Thank you God.

QT 2/6/2024 Mark 15:21-32, We are all sinners

Mark 15:21–32 (ESV) —

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

 

NOTE: What is there to say that has not already been said or wrote? The savagery toward Jesus -- who came to save us, preached a message of love and service -- is amazing. People, some, hated him greatly. Why? Because Jesus is a reminder of our rebellion against God. He reminds us that we are sinners who do not want to truly obey God. The sad part is that includes the  chief priests and scribes. We are all in rebellion to God, it's just that some of us fake that they are not. Some of those are the religious, the "fake church-goers," -- those who are whitewashed tombs. I see too many of those in the church. They are interested in the accolades, but the only accolade we should wish for is from God -- "well done, good and faithful servant." I hope and pray that will always be enough for me. And I hope and pray that I hear those words.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I serious about pleasing God or that people think I am pleasing God?
2. Am I more interested in being noticed or serving without notice?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am a sinful man. I am far too often interested in being seen or being known. My pride asserts itself often. I fail you far too often. Have mercy on me. In this third season of my life, help me to live the quiet life of a servant who does not need to be acknowledged by anybody but you.

QT 2/5/2024 Matt 15:16-20, Wanting to be gods

Mark 15:16–20 (ESV) —

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

 

NOTE: Why so much anger? There a few possibilities. 1) Men, sinful human beings, find it amusing to bully another human being for no reason. 2) They had heard some of the rumors of his teaching and did not like the moral restrictions on their behavior. 3) They did not like their assignment (location or job) or the Jew's religion and associated Jesus with this job. 4) Satan incited them against Jesus because of his hatred of God (Satan thought he was winning).

 

The story is full of irony. Jesus was and is the King of Jews. He will subdue all enemies and place them under his feet someday in the future. They will kneel down before Jesus, but not in jest next time. I like to think that later some of these soldiers repented and kneeled in submission to his authority.

 

The issue harkens back to the garden of Eden, where the couple wanted to be their own gods, to determine good and evil for themselves. They did not want to submit to God's rules, but wanted to be like God. That is still the problem today. No one wants to submit to rules that they don't agree. You see it while driving. A person does not stop at the stop sign because no one is there. A person goes through the red light because he can. Nowadays, theft has become so common at stores, that self-serve checkouts are being eliminated. We have lost our moral baseline. We are brainwashed by society to believe morality is subjective and relative. We have become our own gods choosing what is right and wrong for ourselves.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe in objective truth?
2. Do I believe God's truth is the ultimate truth for society?
3. Would I have acted like one of those soldiers?

 

PRAYER: Father, for those of us who are honest, we are debased, sinful human beings who glory in our "freedom" and "god-ship." But, our real need is not freedom but submission to your Lordship. We will never be truly happy until we see your word as the truth for life, and Jesus as our hope of salvation.

QT 2/1/2024 Mark 15:1-15, He died because of my sins

Mark 15:1–5 (ESV) —

1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

 

NOTE: It is an interesting situation for Pilate. He has to balance appeasing Rome, the leaders, and the populace while also maintaining control. Rome was not unjust unless it served their interests. Jesus committed no crime nor did he seem willing to defend himself against the charges brought against him. He was not violent. And for Pilate, there was his wife's warning about not getting involved. But Pilate here represents the Gentiles. And the leaders (chief priests, elders, scribes, and whole council) represent the Jewish people. The Jews wanted him killed but the Gentiles held the authority to make it happen. In the end, Pilate gives the order to crucify him. By all accounts, Pilate did not want to crucify him. But that does not absolve him of the action. Of course, it was God's will that he die for all people. Pilate was a low-level actor in a grand plan. His involvement destroys the idea that Jews were the Christ-killer. All mankind, represented by Jew and Gentile, killed the Christ, the messiah. And we are all guilty of his death if only that our sins required a substitute if we were ever to be restored and saved.

 

PONDER:

Our sin, and God's love put Christ on the cross. Do I realize how fortunate I am for this death for me?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your great love to save a sinner like me. I am undeserving of all that you have and continue to do for me. Thank you!