33 For three hours, beginning at noon, darkness came over the earth. 34 About three o’clock, Jesus shouted with a mighty voice in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”—that is, “My God, My God, why have you turned your back on me?”
35 Some who were standing near the cross misunderstood and said, “Listen! He’s calling for Elijah.” 36 One bystander ran and got a sponge, soaked it with sour wine, then put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue him.” 37 Just then Jesus passionately cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 38 At that moment the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
39 When the Roman military officer who was standing right in front of Jesus saw how he died, he said, “There is no doubt this man was the Son of God!
40–41 Watching from a distance, away from the crowds, were many of the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and had cared for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jacob the younger and Joseph, and Salome. Many other women who had followed him to Jerusalem were there too.
Terrie's Comments:
In Verse 34 Jesus was referring to the scriptures, which the religious scholars would have known well. He was referring back to the Psalms and reminding them of what was said about that moment.
At the moment that Jesus died the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to the bottom and their was no longer anything separating us from having an open relationship with God our Father!! That was a glorious moment for humanity for sure!
Tori's Comments:
I was about to ask a question about verse 34, but glanced at Terrie's and found the start of an answer :)
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Day 63 - Mark 15:21-32
21 As they came out of the city, they stopped an African man named Simon, a native of Libya. He was passing by, just coming in from the countryside with his two sons, Alexander and Rufus, and the soldiers forced him to carry the heavy crossbeam for Jesus. 22 They brought Jesus to the execution site called Golgotha, which means “Skull Hill.” 23 There they offered him a mild painkiller, a drink of wine mixed with gall, but he refused to drink it.
24 They nailed his hands and feet to the cross. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who would win them. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they finally crucified him. 26 Above his head they placed a sign with the inscription of the charge against him, which read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
27 Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. 28 This fulfilled the Scripture that says:
He was considered to be a criminal.
29 Those who passed by shook their heads and spitefully ridiculed him, saying, “Aha! You boasted that you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Why don’t you save yourself now? Just come down from the cross!”
31 Even the ruling priests and the religious scholars joined in the mockery and kept laughing among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but he can’t even save himself! Israel’s king, is he? 32 Let the ‘Messiah,’ the ‘king of Israel,’ pull out the nails and come down from the cross right now. We’ll believe it when we see it!” Even the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus began to taunt him, hurling insults on him.
Tori's Comments:
What a worthy, beautiful, saviour we serve. Just reading these accounts puts me in awe of all that he endured to save us, that we might be called children of God!
Terrie's Comments:
There are so many prophecies that were fulfilled in just this one day it is almost unbelievable, yet that is what makes it believable and proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be when he walked on the earth with us. So many little tiny details that were talked about happened just the way God predicted that they would through the prophets of the Old Testament.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
24 They nailed his hands and feet to the cross. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who would win them. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they finally crucified him. 26 Above his head they placed a sign with the inscription of the charge against him, which read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
27 Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. 28 This fulfilled the Scripture that says:
He was considered to be a criminal.
29 Those who passed by shook their heads and spitefully ridiculed him, saying, “Aha! You boasted that you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Why don’t you save yourself now? Just come down from the cross!”
31 Even the ruling priests and the religious scholars joined in the mockery and kept laughing among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but he can’t even save himself! Israel’s king, is he? 32 Let the ‘Messiah,’ the ‘king of Israel,’ pull out the nails and come down from the cross right now. We’ll believe it when we see it!” Even the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus began to taunt him, hurling insults on him.
Tori's Comments:
What a worthy, beautiful, saviour we serve. Just reading these accounts puts me in awe of all that he endured to save us, that we might be called children of God!
Terrie's Comments:
There are so many prophecies that were fulfilled in just this one day it is almost unbelievable, yet that is what makes it believable and proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be when he walked on the earth with us. So many little tiny details that were talked about happened just the way God predicted that they would through the prophets of the Old Testament.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, February 5, 2018
Day 62 - Mark 15:16-20
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the headquarters of the governor’s compound and summoned a military unit of nearly six hundred men. 17 They placed a purple robe on him to make fun of him. Then they braided a victor’s crown, a wreath made of thorns, and set it on his head. 18 And with a mock salute they repeatedly cried out, “Hail, your majesty, king of the Jews!” 19 They kept on spitting in his face and hit him repeatedly on his head with a reed staff, driving the crown of thorns deep into his brow. They knelt down before him in mockery, pretending to pay him homage. 20 When they finished ridiculing him, they took off the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to be crucified.
Terrie's Comments:
Why 600 men? This was not a private mocking and beating by any stretch of the imagination. They were mocking the very heart of who He was and didn't know what they were accomplishing as they were doing it. By Jesus stripes we were healed. By this horrific act we now have healing in the name of Jesus forever! Amen
Tori's Comments:
It hurts to read this. Especially when compared with accounts of Jesus that describe him as the King he truly is and the kingdom He will bring...
If HE could endure such as humbling as this, and asks us to follow in his footsteps, maybe I need to think of myself a little less.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Terrie's Comments:
Why 600 men? This was not a private mocking and beating by any stretch of the imagination. They were mocking the very heart of who He was and didn't know what they were accomplishing as they were doing it. By Jesus stripes we were healed. By this horrific act we now have healing in the name of Jesus forever! Amen
Tori's Comments:
It hurts to read this. Especially when compared with accounts of Jesus that describe him as the King he truly is and the kingdom He will bring...
If HE could endure such as humbling as this, and asks us to follow in his footsteps, maybe I need to think of myself a little less.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Day 61 - Mark 15:6-15
6 Every year at Passover, it was the custom of the governor to pardon a prisoner and release him to the people—anyone they wanted. 7 Now, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Barabbas, one of the assassins who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowds gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment bench and asked him to release a prisoner to them, as was his custom.
9 So he asked them, “Do you want me to release to you today the king of the Jews?” 10 (Pilate was fully aware that the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because of sheer spite and envy.)
11 But the ruling priests stirred up the crowd to incite them to ask for Barabbas instead.
12 So Pilate asked them, “Then what do you want me to do with this one you call the king of the Jews?”
13 They all shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14 “Why?” Pilate asked. “What evil thing has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting out with an deafening roar, “Crucify him at once!”
15 Because he wanted to please the people, Pilate released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus severely beaten with a whip made of leather straps and embedded with metal, he sentenced him to be crucified.
Tori's Comments:
Jesus takes our place like he took Barrabas's.
I wonder what Barabbas did next. Did he turn to worship the one who took His place? Or did he continue in a life without Him?
Terrie's Comments:
I am pretty sure this did not end the way Pilate expected it to. He was thinking that it was a black and white decision and inevitably Jesus would be free... right? This mob against Jesus escalated so quickly from a crowd who was worshiping Jesus just a short time before this. Are we ones who worship Jesus and stand on the Word of God no matter what or do we only stand on the Word when it is convenient and goes with popular opinion? The Bible isn't politically correct. We will not always be popular when we live our lives according to the Word of God no matter what.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
9 So he asked them, “Do you want me to release to you today the king of the Jews?” 10 (Pilate was fully aware that the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because of sheer spite and envy.)
11 But the ruling priests stirred up the crowd to incite them to ask for Barabbas instead.
12 So Pilate asked them, “Then what do you want me to do with this one you call the king of the Jews?”
13 They all shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14 “Why?” Pilate asked. “What evil thing has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting out with an deafening roar, “Crucify him at once!”
15 Because he wanted to please the people, Pilate released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus severely beaten with a whip made of leather straps and embedded with metal, he sentenced him to be crucified.
Tori's Comments:
Jesus takes our place like he took Barrabas's.
I wonder what Barabbas did next. Did he turn to worship the one who took His place? Or did he continue in a life without Him?
Terrie's Comments:
I am pretty sure this did not end the way Pilate expected it to. He was thinking that it was a black and white decision and inevitably Jesus would be free... right? This mob against Jesus escalated so quickly from a crowd who was worshiping Jesus just a short time before this. Are we ones who worship Jesus and stand on the Word of God no matter what or do we only stand on the Word when it is convenient and goes with popular opinion? The Bible isn't politically correct. We will not always be popular when we live our lives according to the Word of God no matter what.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Day 60 - Mark 15:1-5
1 Before dawn that morning, all the ruling priests, elders, religious scholars, and the entire Jewish council set in motion their plan against Jesus. They bound him in chains, took him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
2 As Jesus stood in front of the Roman governor, Pilate asked him, “So, are you really the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “You have just spoken it.”
3 Then the ruling priests, over and over, made bitter accusations against him, but he remained silent.
4 So Pilate questioned him again. “Have you nothing to say? Don’t you hear these many allegations they’re making against you?” 5 But Jesus offered no defense to any of the charges, much to the great astonishment of Pilate.
Terrie's Comments:
Have you ever been falsely accused - in a situation that you knew saying anything would only make it worse? It is a horrible feeling but all too often we feel the need to defend our innocence and more often than not it does make the situation worse or at least prolong it. It is no wonder that Pilate was astonished that Jesus was silent when there were many allegations, which were all false, being shouted at Jesus.
Tori's Comments:
I picture Jesus's silence as a noble one. What a king we serve!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
2 As Jesus stood in front of the Roman governor, Pilate asked him, “So, are you really the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “You have just spoken it.”
3 Then the ruling priests, over and over, made bitter accusations against him, but he remained silent.
4 So Pilate questioned him again. “Have you nothing to say? Don’t you hear these many allegations they’re making against you?” 5 But Jesus offered no defense to any of the charges, much to the great astonishment of Pilate.
Terrie's Comments:
Have you ever been falsely accused - in a situation that you knew saying anything would only make it worse? It is a horrible feeling but all too often we feel the need to defend our innocence and more often than not it does make the situation worse or at least prolong it. It is no wonder that Pilate was astonished that Jesus was silent when there were many allegations, which were all false, being shouted at Jesus.
Tori's Comments:
I picture Jesus's silence as a noble one. What a king we serve!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, February 2, 2018
Day 59 - Mark 14:66-72
66 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting below in the courtyard when a girl, a servant of the high priest, came near the fire. 67 When she saw Peter there warming himself, she said to him, “I recognize you. You were with that Nazarene, Jesus.”
68 But Peter denied it, saying, “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the gateway of the courtyard and the rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl noticed him, she said to all the bystanders, “I know this man is one of his followers!”
70 Once again, Peter denied it. A short time later, the bystanders said to him, “You must be one of them. You’re a Galilean, like he is, for your accent proves it!”
71 Peter cursed and said, “I tell you, I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72 At the same moment Peter spoke those words, the sound of a rooster crowing pierced the night for the second time. And Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him earlier: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” With a shattered heart, Peter broke down and sobbed with bitter tears.
Tori's Comments:
I really struggle to read this story without it accompanying the one where Jesus reinstates Peter... because you see Peter understand the depth of failure of humanity, and yet Jesus still offers grace.
Terrie's Comments:
That moment of realization that Jesus was right again... and another confirmation that He is the Son of God in the flesh! I am sure that Peter was sincere when he said to Jesus he wouldn't turn away and deny him even if everyone else did. He did stick around longer than anyone else. I wonder what Peter thought was going to happen in this trial? Jesus being spat on, mocked and beat would be enough to shake me up to I think.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
68 But Peter denied it, saying, “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the gateway of the courtyard and the rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl noticed him, she said to all the bystanders, “I know this man is one of his followers!”
70 Once again, Peter denied it. A short time later, the bystanders said to him, “You must be one of them. You’re a Galilean, like he is, for your accent proves it!”
71 Peter cursed and said, “I tell you, I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72 At the same moment Peter spoke those words, the sound of a rooster crowing pierced the night for the second time. And Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him earlier: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” With a shattered heart, Peter broke down and sobbed with bitter tears.
Tori's Comments:
I really struggle to read this story without it accompanying the one where Jesus reinstates Peter... because you see Peter understand the depth of failure of humanity, and yet Jesus still offers grace.
Terrie's Comments:
That moment of realization that Jesus was right again... and another confirmation that He is the Son of God in the flesh! I am sure that Peter was sincere when he said to Jesus he wouldn't turn away and deny him even if everyone else did. He did stick around longer than anyone else. I wonder what Peter thought was going to happen in this trial? Jesus being spat on, mocked and beat would be enough to shake me up to I think.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Day 58 - Mark 14:53-65
53 Those who arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, to a meeting where the religious scholars and Jewish leaders were assembled. 54 Now, Peter had followed him from a distance all the way to the chief priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards and was warming himself by the fire.
55 The chief priests and the entire supreme Jewish council of leaders were doing their best to find false charges that they could bring against Jesus and condemn him to death, but they could not find any. 56 Many false witnesses came forward, but the evidence could not be corroborated. 57 Some came forward and testified against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I can destroy this temple made with hands and then build another one again in three days not made with hands!’” 59 Yet even on this point the witnesses did not agree.
60 Finally, the chief priest stood up in the middle of them and said to Jesus, “Have you nothing to say about these allegations? Is what they’re saying about you true?”
61 But Jesus remained silent before them and did not answer. So the chief priest said to him, “Are you the anointed Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?”
62 Jesus answered him, “I am. And more than that, you are about to see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the heavenly clouds!”
63 Then, as an act of outrage, the high priest tore his robe and shouted, “No more witnesses are needed, 64 for you’ve heard this grievous blasphemy.” Turning to the council he said, “Now, what is your verdict?”
“He’s guilty and deserves the death penalty!” they all answered.
65 Then they spat on his face and blindfolded him. Others struck him over and over with their fists and taunted him by saying, “Prophesy to us! Tell us which one of us is about to hit you next?” And the guards took him and beat him.
Terrie's Comments:
Peter was being so brave following Him this far when everyone else had scattered so quickly. I wonder if Peter and his personality were having trouble listening to all that was going on in this mock trial?
Tori's Comments:
The high priests were so blind to the truth that Christ offered them.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
55 The chief priests and the entire supreme Jewish council of leaders were doing their best to find false charges that they could bring against Jesus and condemn him to death, but they could not find any. 56 Many false witnesses came forward, but the evidence could not be corroborated. 57 Some came forward and testified against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I can destroy this temple made with hands and then build another one again in three days not made with hands!’” 59 Yet even on this point the witnesses did not agree.
60 Finally, the chief priest stood up in the middle of them and said to Jesus, “Have you nothing to say about these allegations? Is what they’re saying about you true?”
61 But Jesus remained silent before them and did not answer. So the chief priest said to him, “Are you the anointed Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?”
62 Jesus answered him, “I am. And more than that, you are about to see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the heavenly clouds!”
63 Then, as an act of outrage, the high priest tore his robe and shouted, “No more witnesses are needed, 64 for you’ve heard this grievous blasphemy.” Turning to the council he said, “Now, what is your verdict?”
“He’s guilty and deserves the death penalty!” they all answered.
65 Then they spat on his face and blindfolded him. Others struck him over and over with their fists and taunted him by saying, “Prophesy to us! Tell us which one of us is about to hit you next?” And the guards took him and beat him.
Terrie's Comments:
Peter was being so brave following Him this far when everyone else had scattered so quickly. I wonder if Peter and his personality were having trouble listening to all that was going on in this mock trial?
Tori's Comments:
The high priests were so blind to the truth that Christ offered them.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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