He Knows My Doubt Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31 Meditation The Evil One is the father of two fraternal twins: terror and doubt. During the Savior’s Passion, Satan’s demons dropped these two hellions on the doorstep of the disciples. When the disciples answered the door, the two unruly children pushed their way into the house of […]
He Knows My Slowness to Believe Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-35 Meditation Emmaus is a small village only a brisk afternoon’s walk outside of Jerusalem. For two traveling together, the seven miles can be easily bridged by a steady gait spurred on by plenty of spirited conversation. But for a pair of Jesus’ disciples burdened by […]
He Knows My Grief Scripture Reading: Luke 23:44—24:12 Meditation The events of the past few days have struck a violent blow to the heart of the women who have followed Jesus from Galilee. Just last week, all of Jerusalem’s people had hailed their Master as a king but today they nailed him to a tree […]
He Knows My Eleventh Hour Request Scripture Reading: Luke 23:32-43 Meditation In death, as in life, Jesus keeps company with sinners. Since his ministry began, the religious leaders have accused Jesus of hanging around the riffraff. When he talked about the value of lost things, the religious leaders were right there, watching with a legalistic […]
“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.” Psalm 23:6a As the Good Shepherd leads the flock toward home, Beauty and Love, like two tireless sheepdogs, bring up the rear. Every day they work the fields and watch over the flock. No need to fear what is behind, or what is […]
He Knows My Insults Scripture Reading: Mark 15:16-32 Meditation Throughout the Passion of the Christ, insult upon insult is added to injury. During it all, Jesus stands silent. He’s like a lamb about to be taken to the slaughter. There is no response to the accusations. No words spoken in self-defense. Only silence. It’s the […]
He Knows My Neutrality Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:11-26 Meditation Pontius Pilate is a good politician. As prefect of the Judean province, he knows whom to please and how best to please them. In his tenure, he has learned that the best political decisions aren’t always the morally right ones but the ones most expedient. Pilate […]
He Knows My Remorse Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:59-68; 27:1-10 Meditation The traitorous deed is done. The transaction between Judas and the High Priest is complete. The Son of Man is now in the hands of sinful men for the bargain price of thirty pieces of silver, compensation equivalent to that of a slave accidentally gored […]
He Knows My Denial Scripture Reading: Mark 14:27-31,66-72 Meditation Tonight, Satan’s on the prowl and he’s salivating at the thought of a double portion—the Shepherd and his flock. Everyone knows that, once the Shepherd is gone, the sheep are easy prey. Attack Jesus and his disciples will scatter. “I will strike the shepherd; The sheep […]
He Knows My Betrayal Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:17-30 Meditation The time of treachery is near. In a few hours Jesus will be betrayed into the hands of sinful men. A cabal of religious leaders will deride and persecute him. They will prosecute him with a mock trial and render a contrived verdict of blasphemy. Then they will […]
He Knows My Plotting Scripture Reading: John 11:38-57 Meditation After four days dead, Lazarus is now alive. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, had finally arrived. With his face still wet from a stream of tears, Jesus had made his way to the middle of the graveyard, ordered the stone rolled away, and had shouted […]
“You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.” Psalm 23:5 When the sheep can’t seem to go the ‘second-mile’, the Good Shepherd stops in enemy territory, sets up a protective perimeter, and revives his flock with an all out spread. His […]
He Knows My Worship Scripture Reading: Mark 12:38-44 Meditation Soon Jesus will offer himself up as the once and for all sacrifice for sin. As he prepares to take the final steps to the cross, he goes to the temple courts and finds a quiet place to sit. He positions himself so that his eyes […]
He Knows My Tendency to Play It Safe Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30 Meditation When it comes to extending the kingdom of God, Jesus never played it safe. Throughout his ministry, there has never been any caution in his steps, only the determination to live all out for the purpose of his Father—nothing held back, all […]
He Knows My Separation Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19 Meditation Living outside of a village, in the borderland between Galilee and Samaria, is a man who bears a double curse. By birth he’s a Samaritan and by lot he’s a leper. He’s not morally responsible for either but both his lineage and his disease bring with […]
