“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 63:6-7) A Sabbath day of reflection entails both a look into the mirror of our humanity and a stare into the majesty of his divinity. […]
The Grieving Christ Scripture Reading: John 11:1-44 Meditation Two sisters, their brother, and Jesus. They aren’t just friends; they’re family. They might not be connected by genetics or related by blood but they are bound together by love. And so when the brother, Lazarus, gets sick, the sisters send word to Jesus, “Lord, the one […]
The Accepting Christ Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42 Meditation She’s a Samaritan; he’s a Jew. Woman. Man. Her life is a mess and he is the Messiah. Culturally she’s not allowed to mix with him, socially she’s not allowed to be seen with him and spiritually she’s not allowed to talk to him. She’s prohibited from […]
The Loving Christ Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21 Meditation Nicodemus, is a bright man and yet he’s spiritually in the dark. He’s a man of the Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council, Israel’s teacher and yet he’s looking for the truth. The number of his years makes him cautious but the number of […]
The Passionate Christ Scripture Reading: John 2:1-25 Meditation A wedding is a grand affair: festive, full of joy, short on worries, and long on well wishes. It’s a community event that could last up to a week. In a close-knit village like Cana, everyone is invited. It’s a time to celebrate and Jesus is right […]
The Sacrificial Christ Scripture Reading: John 1:19-51 Meditation Between a promise and its fulfillment is a waiting room. John the Baptist, his disciples, and an entire generation of Jews have been sitting in that room and now the door is about to be opened. They have read the Scriptures, they understand the characteristics of the […]
The Incarnate Christ Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18 Meditation Every story starts somewhere. Either it opens with a fanciful, “Once upon a time …” Or it launches out with an adventurous, “A long time ago …” Or it looks back, reminisces, and recollects past events with a nostalgic, “I remember when …”. But what do you […]
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8) Grace is God taking the initiative. He acts. He moves. He invites. He works. He changes lives. He seeks and he saves. Following right behind grace is […]
The Attentive Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 18:35–19:10 Meditation As Jesus approaches Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus sits by the roadside. He’s at his usual spot, at his usual time. He’s always known the darkness and he’s adapted. His routine and the regular comings and goings of his town have given him a sixth sense. He […]
The Tender Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 18:1-17 Meditation A widow. A tax collector. Crying babies. They’re different and yet they’re the same. Though they’re from different social classes, at different stages and ages of life, with different circumstances and needs—they’re all the same. They’re vulnerable. She’s defenseless. He’s broken. And the babies are helpless. But […]
The Rejoicing Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-32 Meditation The Pharisees and experts in the law are so close to the kingdom of God and yet they’re so far away. They have the prophets. They have the Messianic promises. And now, in Jesus, they have the fulfillment of both, right in front of them. He is […]
The Inviting Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 14:1-24 Meditation Jesus knew the Sabbath invitation wasn’t sincere, but he went anyway. As he entered the Pharisee’s house, there in front of him—like live bait squirming in a concealed trap—was a man suffering from dropsy. The Pharisee had purposefully placed the man there. It was a predetermined, carefully […]
The Longing Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 13:22-35 Meditation The city of Jerusalem is the summit of Jesus’ ministry. It’s the culmination of his redemptive climb. It’s his destination. His goal. On the peak of that city, he will stake a cross in the ground, climb it, extend his hands in triumph, declare his victory, and—while […]
The Comforting Christ Scripture Reading: Luke 12:1-34 Meditation Thousands of people surrounded Jesus. But there was only room for a few up front. Near. Close to him. Directly before him, seated at his feet, are the Twelve. But in-between the feet of Jesus and the back of the crowd are the ones who got caught […]
“The Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” (Luke […]
