Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: Salvation is for the whole person not just an inner portion of a person. Christ brings the gift of salvation to both the physical and spiritual dimensions of life. Believers are being saved in terms of past, present, and future time by the power of God (1 Cor 1:18). When we call upon Christ for salvation, God forgives our past sin, empowers us with grace to follow the Spirit in the present, and prepares and equips us to be witnesses in the future as we look for Christ’s return.

As we obediently give our whole bodies and lives to Christ, he begins to live in and through us bringing salvation—Christ is God with us—and he is creating his righteous dwelling place IN human beings. The salvation Christ brings includes: peace and restoration between God and humans, peace between human beings, and peace between human beings and nature. Christ is the Prince of Peace—his peace is not the absence of conflict but rather wholeness—so he is always wanting to reconcile and restore lives and relationships (Isa 9:6).

God loves you! He calls you by name and he reaches down to touch your life with his saving goodness as each day he refashions you in his righteous character and image. This is a process of transformation in which human beings surrender to the purposes of God. To deny this transformation is to reject the salvation Christ actually offers. We must stop trying to live like we are our own god. So, live by faith and trust God’s plan for you. As you walk with the Spirit, you will experience more and more wholeness and the inexpressible joy found in God’s presence. It is all possible because Jesus brings us a right relationship with Almighty God.

1 Peter 1:8-12 NLT 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the transformation you are bringing into the lives of your children as you dwell with us. We welcome the changes you bring, because we want to bring you the glory you so rightly deserve. Be glorified in us today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen (Heb 11:1). Therefore, faith is a humble attitude of expectation and trust in Christ to draw God’s grace or favor into our lives. We do not deserve grace, but when we humble ourselves and repent, God responds in love and pours his goodness upon us. The law of Moses [Mosaic covenant made by God] was a good thing, but grace and truth through Christ is even better (John 1:17). In fact, we are taught in Scripture “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Eph 4:7). Grace is an extravagant Gift from God; the riches of heaven that are apportioned as Christ directs. As his followers, let’s wisely position ourselves with our Master.

In our passage today, the teachers of religious law demand a sign to prove Christ’s authority; that he was sent by God. God’s grace empowered Moses to perform many signs that would convince others he was sent by God. The religious leaders demand a sign to see what Jesus can do in order to decide if God sent him. Jesus confronts these faithless expectations with a sign of salvation he had already sent so many years earlier; as Jonah was resurrected out of the belly (grave) of the fish, so the Son of Man would be resurrected from the tomb of the earth (grave).

To reject Jesus is to make evil one’s master which brings God’s judgment. Jesus walked by faith and lived in the grace provided; in doing so, he demonstrated a deep love for humanity and performed one miracle after another for those willing to embrace humility and repentance. As Christ’s humble followers, miraculous signs can continue among us in order to demonstrate the power of Christ to save humanity from sin and death. I am so grateful Christ has written his law on our hearts and given us the Spirit who bears witness to the Truth, so we can walk obediently by faith and receive the grace of God as we live, move, and have our being in Christ (Acts 17:28).

Matthew 12:39-42 NLT The Sign of Jonah
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

Prayer: Lord, throughout history, you have proven your love for humanity. Everything we could possibly need for salvation has been provided in Christ. Thank you for your favor and for grace that is more than sufficient for our every need. By faith, we will walk forward each day knowing you are with us and your purpose for our lives will be fulfilled. You have promised and by faith we believe. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Eternal life (a quality of life or abundant life with God) is the proof of Christ’s resurrection and our relationship with the Father. In Christ, we have the assurance our sins are forgiven and we are free from the judgment of God. Believers can enjoy tastes of eternal life now while we are in the world, because we have died with Christ and been raised with him into new [resurrection] life. So this reality gives us a different perspective of our lives; a heavenly one filled with hope.

We can know the power that raised Christ from the dead right now, because the Spirit helps to raise us from sin and dead living. This is where we place our faith; in the presence, provision, and power of God. And let us not forget, according to Scripture, there will be another resurrection in the future—all people will be resurrected either into eternal life or into judgment.

For this reason, please make sure you have an abiding relationship with Christ now; make him the Lord of your life. By obeying the Lord and living according to his will, we can look forward to stepping from this corrupt and sinful world into God’s glorious paradise (Luke 23:42-43). This is where God’s people place their hope [Heb: tikvah—expectation]. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13).

1 Corinthians 15:19-28 NLT

19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for people across the world to be drawn to you and to reach for the salvation you offer in Christ. As believers, our hope is in you and everything you have promised to do in bringing us into the fullness of eternal life. We know one day you will conquer all evil on this earth once and for all. It cannot be soon enough for us, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Humility is not associated with believing we are worthless; on the contrary, it is simply recognizing God’s all-powerful redemptive work alive in and for us making our lives worthy of His call to be his sons and daughters (2 Thes 1:11). We need to see ourselves from God’s perspective; from the immense love he has for us as his ‘adopted’ children (Gal 4:5). We are adopted on the basis of grace to be a part of God’s family; we are no longer children of the world (Gal 4:3-7). Therefore, we eagerly humble ourselves before the Mighty Hand of God, because what Father brings into our lives is so much better!

In our passage today from the Apostle Paul—a religious Pharisee who was at one time considered an enemy of the church—is now proclaiming the gospel message of Jesus. I can only imagine how unworthy Paul could have been feeling to be in such a position, but he is exactly the person God wanted to use. The Truth Paul earlier rejected about Christ and his followers actually prepared him to share the gospel of grace that turns the heart of people back to God and his redemption. Paul had to humble himself to become a son of God and follower of Christ. Who better than Paul to testify to the power of God’s grace to change a human perspective?

Therefore, Paul was very strategic with how he shared the gospel. First, Paul began by telling those listening about how the promises of the Old Testament have been fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ps 16:8-11; Isa 9:6-7). Second, Paul shared about God exalting Jesus by resurrecting him to be the head or Messiah of a new people with a fresh perspective—born again or adopted (Phil 2:6-11). Third, Paul, as well as all the apostles were eye witnesses to the miraculous works of Christ, so Paul shared his personal experience which was very influential (Mat 14:15-21; Acts 9:3-20). Fourth, Paul taught a true believer’s response to these things should be one of humility, repentance, and faith (Acts 20:21). Lastly, Paul affirms that God sent the Holy Spirit to move a person from sin into a life led by the Spirit (Ro 8:5-9, 14).

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 NLT The Resurrection of Christ
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

Prayer: Father, thank you for adopting us as your children through the work of Christ whom you sent, as well as the work of the Spirit who helps us to grow and experience salvation and life from your perspective. Teach us, guide us, and place your message on our lips, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Prayer is interacting [talking] with God and seeking his favor [grace]. When we pray, we are addressing our Creator and Maker; the One who loves us more than any other. No One cares for us spiritually, emotionally, or physical more than God. Our prayers to him can be filled with emotion and desires and God welcomes us to pour out our souls to him. Have you ever just sat and cried with God? Maybe our prayers are filled with praise and gratitude and God welcomes every one. When is the last time you just sat and praise God for every blessing he has poured into your life or the lives of your loved ones? Prayer can be motivated by need, so we petition God and he listens to the cries of our hearts and rises to be our Provider and Healer. Do you realize every good thing that has touched your life comes from God and every power you need is at his command? Every human being has much to pray about each day. Will you spend some time in prayer, today?

In our passage from the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Colossians, we are encouraged to devote ourselves to prayer and thanksgiving; we must never grow tired of praying. Paul asks believers to pray for him that he would be alert to the evangelistic opportunities given to him while he is in jail; he wants to make the gospel of salvation clear to others who may be facing death. As believers, we should be praying for those opportunities, as well. There are people around us who may not know Christ; they may not realize the salvation he offers. So, who will tell them, if you and I don’t?

Colossians 4:2-5 NLT An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be watchful and vigilant with every opportunity to share your love and message of salvation. We pray for ourselves; we need you in every area of our lives. Give us courage to step into the opportunities we are given to share Christ with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some relationships are challenging in life, because our wills can be very strong, as well as our determination to defend ourselves [or our loved ones] against those who see things differently. As Christians, we need to remember every relationship we make should be built upon God’s love, good listening skills, and a proper mindset of trying to understand one another. Honestly, we all come to a listening time in our relationships with built-in judgments; positive or negative.

For example, say someone once hurt or rejected us, so since that time we listen from that place of pain in the past to interpret what is being said in the present. We may not be listening for good things or kind words to be said at all, because we are standing on our emotions about what happened in the past rather than standing on Christ and the forgiving love of God. We struggle to let the negative judgments go in order to love as Christ. However, Paul reminds us, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Cor 13:7). So, will we love others the way Jesus loves us?

In our passage from Colossians, today, the Apostle Paul gives some advice to those who desire to live as genuine Christians: 1) we must imitate Christ’s compassion and forgiveness in our relationships; 2) we welcome Christ’s love to be the compass that guides our lives; 3) we allow the shalom [peace] of Christ to rule in our hearts; 4) we live with a spirit of thanksgiving for the salvation of Christ; 5) we apply the Word to our lives; and 6) we desire to do all things—in thought, word, or deed—in a way that glorifies Christ. As Christians, we celebrate the resurrected Christ, because we have been raised with Him to new life—a life that is filled with holy attitudes, holy forgiveness, and holy love.

Colossians 3:12-17 VOICE
12 Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. 14 But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together. 15 Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful.

16 Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness. 17 Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.

Prayer: Lord, please continue to lead us into a holy new life. Help us to be full of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You have forgiven us for so many offenses; please help us to be quick to forgive as a way that imitates you. Groom us in great listening skills; we welcome you into all of our relationships. We know all these amazing attributes found in your Word reflect your character and are bound together in your love. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.
With regard to Christ, humanity must make a decision for how we will view His story to offer salvation through a miraculous rebirth into eternal life—we will either accept it as Truth or reject it.

The Resurrection narratives are not a picture of survival after death; they record how a totally new mode of being has arisen in the Universe.” (CS Lewis; God in the Dock)

As human beings, we have an innate desire to try to make sense of everything—we want the circumstances we face to be clear and easy to understand. In our passage from the Psalter, David cries out about his humiliation, the rejection and mockery of people, as well as his perception of God’s absence or abandonment. David cannot make sense of what is happening to him. Like David, we may question, examine, doubt, or even grieve over our perception of God’s absence in our trials that leave us in a state of confusion. However, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). So, as God’s distressed servants facing things we do not understand, instead of praying for vengeance against our enemies, like David we need to pray and ask God for comfort and salvation.

Psalm 22:1-11 NLT A Passion Psalm of David
1
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
3 
Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 
Our ancestors trusted in you,
    and you rescued them.
5 
They cried out to you and were saved.
    They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6 
But I am a worm and not a man.
    I am scorned and despised by all!
7 
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
    They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
    Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
    let the Lord rescue him!”
9 
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
    and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 
I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
    You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 
Do not stay so far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and no one else can help me.

David’s psalm makes a connection to the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus himself actually quotes a portion of Psalm 22 while he is on the cross. The Righteous One—the sinless Son of God—suffers unjustly as the sin of the world is laid on him and the wrath of God is poured out upon him. Jesus dies in our place. Forgiveness for our sin can now be found in a relationship with Father God through the Son. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sin and welcomed him into your heart, today is your day.

Matthew 27:1-54 NLT Judas Hangs Himself
27 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder” [blood]. 7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. 8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,
“They took the thirty pieces of silver—
    the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10 
and purchased the potter’s field,
    as the Lord directed.”

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”

The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion
32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene [Africa], and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries [criminals] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54 The Roman officer [centurion] and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Prayer:   Lord, with unwavering gratitude, we thank you for paying the penalty for our sin. Although we cannot make sense of the perfect love you have displayed for sinners by dying in our place, we know you are the sinless Son of God. Thank you for offering us salvation by exchanging your Righteous Life for our unrighteous ones. Now, Holy Spirit, help us live as reborn sons and daughters of the Father who walk in your glorious ways. Give us strength as we share in your sufferings.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Prayer is essential during the wait times of suffering, because we are desperate for God’s strengthening of our souls; we know every affliction becomes our share in the Passion of Christ.

“We all try to accept with some sort of submission our afflictions when they actually arrive.” (CS Lewis; Chiefly on Prayer)

In our passage from the Psalter, David experiences pain that foreshadows the suffering of Christ. Yet, like our Messiah, in the most difficult times, David submits to God’s plan for his life because he knows the Lord is faithful. In the midst of every trial is ‘the wait.’ It would be nice if we could take a nap during the wait [weeks or months if necessary] and then wake up to a changed situation, but that is not an option for us. What do we do with the circular movements of our thoughts that lead to anxiety, unrest, and the inevitable temptation to take matters into our own hands? Whether we are waiting for medical results, reconciliation in relationships, or just dealing with the filth of the world that tries to cling to us and take dominion…the distress during the wait is real, so we must entrust our spirits to God and accept His will for our lives.

Psalm 31:1-5 NLT A psalm of David.
1 
O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
2 
Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
3 
You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 
Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
5 
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

In our passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus prepares his disciples for the most glorious moment of his brief life—the upcoming cross where he will be exalted before the world. In our reading, we note this preparation of the disciples takes place during the Passover meal. Judas sits as a friend of Jesus, but has already decided to be a host for Satan and betray the Savior.

Jesus knows the heart of Judas, but chooses to look at him through the lens of grace. In fact, he looks at each one of his disciples through the lens of grace. How do we know? He stoops down—sacrifices his royal position—and takes the role of a servant to wash the filth of the world off from the disciple’s feet. It is symbolic of what Jesus will do for all humanity on the cross—when his sacrifice will make a person clean all over. Every disciple of Christ will face personal sacrifice that will require a servant’s heart and spirit that trusts God’s plan. We must follow-through, because Jesus sees this place of suffering as an opportunity to heal us and set us free!

John 13:1-11 NLT Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end [demonstrating genuine love]. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas [Satan planned this for Judas], son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us look deeper at the power found in the midst of suffering as we wait and trust you with a servant’s heart. Please heal us, Lord, and bring us into a greater place of spiritual freedom and oneness with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

The love and purpose of God is to recreate us in His good and glorious image; therefore, remember the enemy is cunning and diligent at trying to destroy every Christian’s devotion to God.

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us.” (CS Lewis; Screwtape Letters)

Psalm 141:1-10 NLT A psalm of David.
1 
O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
2 
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3 
Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
4 
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.
5 
Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.
But I pray constantly
    against the wicked and their deeds.
6 
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
    the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
7 
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
    the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.[a]
8 
I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
    You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
9 
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
    from the snares of those who do wrong.
10 
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    but let me escape.

Luke 22:1-8 NLT Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

The Last Supper
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”

Please take time to read over our passages for today. I will be teaching on them and leading a discussion this evening during our Lenten Bible Study at 7PM. I hope you will plan to join us in person at Connect2Christ Church or online through our website as we explore the Scriptures together.

Prayer: Father, help us to hold fast to the Truth about your love found in your Son, our Messiah. Holy Spirit, give us the power to resist every temptation sent by Satan to shake us into denying or betraying the Truth. Like your Kingdom, make us unshakable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.