Victory through Surrender

Our "tough guy" culture tries to tell us that only those who are strongest will survive, and sometimes you just gotta beat up on your enemies. Culture says that, but not Jesus. He brought a whole different method of defeating evil -- surrendering to it, absorbing it, in order to free us.

Isaiah 50 describes a servant who would not

Bible Verses

From my friends at The Sanctuary Church in Denver:

https://www.thebvbs.com/

Bible verses we should read at least once more...

Walking through Walls

Remember Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection? In two accounts (Luke 24:36-43 and John 20:19-20 and 24-29) Jesus shows up inside of a locked room. The disciples thought he was a ghost, but he had them touch

The Father did not forsake the Son on the Cross

From Joseph Tkach at Grace Communion International:
https://update.gci.org/2017/04/did-god-abandon-and-take-he-wrath-out-on-jesus-on-good-friday/

The Blind and the Lame

In Matthew 21:14, we read "The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them." Most of the attention in this passage is on Jesus clearing out all the rubbish (that is, the merchants, sorry) from the temple, to make it once again "a house of prayer."  Then we read

Reading and Meditation Guide for Holy Week

We hope this scripture list and questions for meditation will help you walk through Holy Week. From the Book of Common Prayer, let’s pray together:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Focus / For Meditation	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Monday
Jesus clears the temple Voice from heaven	21:12-17	11:15-19	19:41-48	12:20-36
If you were in the crowd watching Jesus clear out the merchants from the temple, would you have been “for him” or “against him”? Why? What did Jesus mean by “Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you”?
Tuesday
Temple controversies, and continuing the tension with the Jewish leaders	21:23-23:39	11:27-12:44	20:1-21:4	12:37-50
Did Jesus speak these parables to condemn the Jews, or for some other purpose? What? Imagine yourself as an observant Jew listening to those parables. Do you understand what he is saying? How do you feel about that? Does he make you angry, convict you, or what? Likewise, what was Jesus thinking and feeling as he spoke the words in John 12:37-40? Why?
Wednesday
Sanhedrin plots to kill Jesus Preparations for the Passover meal	26:3-5 26:17-19	14:1-2 14:12-16	22:1-2 22:7-13
If you were a member of the Sanhedrin, why would you condemn Jesus? Imagine yourself not agreeing with their decision but remaining silent. What are you feeling?
Thursday
Last Supper; footwashing Upper Room sayings & prayer Jesus prays in Gethsemane	26:20-35 26:36-46	14:17-26 14:32-42	22:14-30 22:39-46	13:1-17 13:18-17:26
Reclining at the table, and being part of the argument about who is greatest, how would you feel about being rebuked by Jesus? What was Judas feeling during the Last Supper? How was Jesus feeling about Judas? What would you be feeling as you were taking the bread and the cup, as Jesus commanded? Do you sleep in Gethsemane while Jesus prays? Imagine praying with him instead.
Friday
Betrayal and arrest Trail Crucifixion Burial	26:47-56 26:57-27:26 27:27-54 27:57-61	14:43-52 14:53-15:16 15:16-39 15:42-47	22:47-53 22:54-23:49 23:26-49 23:50-54	18:2-12 18:13-19:16 19:16-37 19:38-42
Imagine yourself as Simon Peter, falling asleep then waking to find the crowd approaching. What are you thinking? Why do you believe you can fight off the guards? Imagine yourself as one of the witnesses to the crucifixion. What is the weather like? How are you feeling? Where are you standing and what can you see? What is your reaction to the words of the soldiers and the Pharisees? What do you think about when Jesus says “Father, forgive them”? Do you wish to forgive? Put yourself in the place of Mary, Jesus’ mother. What are you feeling? Are you praying? Put yourself in the place of Nicodemus, assisting with Jesus’ burial. Why are you participating? What are you feeling? What is your relationship to Joseph of Arimathea?
Saturday
Silence and mourning	27:61	15:47-16:1	23:54-56
Where are the disciples on this day? What are they thinking? Are they talking? Sitting in shock silently? Praying? Weeping? As one of the disciples, would you be asking “what if this was all for nothing?”
Sunday
Empty tomb Resurrection appearances	28:1-8 28:9-20	16:1-8 16:9-20	24:1-12 24:13-53	20:1-10 20:1-21:25
Imagine yourself as Mary Magdalene, arriving at the tomb and finding it empty. What is your first reaction? When you see Jesus, why are you so joyful? As one of the women who sees the angels and hears them speak, do you believe or not? Why? What does it usually mean in the Old Testament when angels appear? What could it mean now? Imagine yourself as John, racing with Peter to see the empty tomb. What are you thinking? Hoping? Fearing? Wondering? As one of the disciples (choose one), what changes in you as you see the risen Christ for the first time?

Outlook: Cloudy with 100% Chance of New Life

Less than halfway through his gospel account, Luke records Jesus turning the corner toward his crucifixion, in chapter 9. Twice (in verses 21 and 44) he predicts his death, Then in verse 51, he "resolutely set out for Jerusalem." All this emphasis on such a small slice of time gives us a detailed understanding of the events around our Savior's death and his miraculous -- and world-changing -- resurrection!  As we finish up our