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 […]
Blog
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 31
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 30
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 29
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Sabbath of Celebration
“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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 28
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 27
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 26
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 […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 25
He Knows My Anxiety Scripture Reading: Luke 12:13-34 Meditation An unwieldy crowd of thousands follows Jesus. In the middle of the shoving and the toe stepping are two brothers at each other’s throats. Greed has a stranglehold on them. The two are obsessed with the equitable division of their dead father’s possessions and one of […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 24
He Knows My Hypocrisy Scripture Reading: Luke 11:37—12:3 Meditation As Jesus finishes talking to the crowd about the mood of the current age—proof appetites, curiosity cravings, and miracle meals—a religious leader pushes his way from the center of the pack of people to the front. When he’s within earshot of Jesus, the religious leader shouts over […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 23
He Knows My Needs Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13 Meditation It’s becoming painfully clear to the disciples that Christ-followers aren’t immune to trouble. Though the disciples place their feet in the footprints of their Master, the ministry path they walk is rough-and-tumble. Each day of the journey has its own share of ankle turning trials and […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Sabbath of Safety
“Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.” Psalm 23:4 The Good Shepherd knows that the journey home must pass through, not around, Death Valley. Though there may be many troubles, toils, and snares, the Shepherd charts a course […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 22
He Knows My Desperation Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43 Meditation Desperate people resort to desperate measures. A synagogue leader named Jairus has a twelve-year-old daughter who’s at death’s door. There isn’t much time. Soon death will turn the knob and swing open the door. The grim reaper will pick the little girl up, carry her into […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 21
He Knows My Demons Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1-20 Meditation Across the Sea of Galilee, on the east side of the lake, is the Gentile region of Gerasene. Nestled close to the shore is a small village, central base for the pig herders in the area and former home to the man possessed by a legion […]
Forty Day Journey with Jesus: Day 20
He Knows My Darkness Scripture Reading: John 9:1-41 Meditation Ever since his ministry began, Jesus has been invading the dark places. When Nicodemus came to him in the middle of the night, Jesus struck a match of love to guide him on his way. As Jesus sat by the well in Sychar, he kindled acceptance […]