3.31.09

Daily Scripture: John 14:1 – 15:17

John 14

¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know ^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.

John 15

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes ^[d] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

Only John’s gospel records what Jesus said after the Last Supper ended. In this first section, Jesus declared that he is the central revelation of God. His earthly time was nearly over—but that did not mean he was abandoning the disciples. The presence of the “Advocate” (or “Comforter”) would bring Jesus’ peace to their hearts.

• John’s gospel uses the Greek word paraklétos for the Holy Spirit. The word meant “one who walks with,” and could apply to anyone from “defense attorney” to “friend.” How does John 14:16-18 show that the Holy Spirit does not replace Jesus, but rather, in a way beyond our full understanding, is Jesus’ presence with us?
• Jesus used the image of a vine and its branches to illustrate how we relate to him. What spiritual practices have helped you most to live into Jesus’ invitation to stay constantly linked with him? In what ways has your connection with Christ led you to bear fruit for God’s Kingdom?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Penny Ellwood at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Dear Jesus, what wonderful promises you made in the shadow of the cross! A room in my Heavenly Father’s house, your presence constantly with me through the Holy Spirit, and even in the hardest of times, your peace filling my heart. Help me to live my life, not consumed by fears, but energized by your promises! Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.30.09

Daily Scripture: Luke 22:7-34

⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹ But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

As with his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus arranged in advance for the Passover meal. With hope-filled words, he changed the annual Passover Supper into a Last Supper. He asked us to do this to recall his sacrifice (verses 14-20). How much he loved Peter, even knowing (as Peter did not) his disciple’s human weakness!

• Jesus said he eagerly desired to eat this special meal with his disciples. With how much eagerness, or lack of it, do you take part in the Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist? What experiences or beliefs lead you to feel the way you do? How can you take in Jesus’ love and restoring power more fully and receive him through this meal?
• At the Last Supper the disciples argued about which of them would be greatest. Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves.” In which relationships is it hardest for you to be a servant? How do you sense spiritual growth in your view of yourself when you give up power so that you can serve another person?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Andrew Conard at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Dear Jesus, what wonderful promises you made in the shadow of the cross! A room in my Heavenly Father’s house, your presence constantly with me through the Holy Spirit, and even in the hardest of times, your peace filling my heart. Help me to live my life, not consumed by fears, but energized by your promises! Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.29.09

Weekly Prayer:

Dear Jesus, what wonderful promises you made in the shadow of the cross! A room in my Heavenly Father’s house, your presence constantly with me through the Holy Spirit, and even in the hardest of times, your peace filling my heart. Help me to live my life, not consumed by fears, but energized by your promises! Amen.

Prayer Tip:

Many of our GPS readings this week will cover what Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit.  As recorded in John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  As this verse states, one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to help us with our reading of the Bible.  Therefore, it is always important to ask for the enlightenment of God’s Holy Spirit as we open the Bible and begin our daily reading.  This week, we encourage you to pray the following prayer, or one of your own, each day prior to your GPS reading:

“Come, Holy Spirit, and instruct my heart and mind as I read, study and apply your Word to my life today.  As you were present with those who wrote the Bible, be present with me now.  Amen.”

Try it.  The experience of God’s people through the centuries suggests that you will see a real difference in your reading, understanding and application of God’s word by asking His Holy Spirit to be present to help you each day.
–Rev. Laurie Barnes, Pastor of Prayer Ministries

Join us for worship today–click here for information on worship times and locations.  If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at live.cor.org.

Download a printable version of this week’s GPS.

3.28.09

Personal Application:

During Communion on March 28 and 29, we will take the Member Assistance offering. We’ve invited you to give up something during Lent, and give the savings to bless and support those who are struggling in the current financial slump. This will be your first chance to turn in whatever you’ve saved. You can also give your gift during Communion at the Maundy Thursday service on April 9.

Family Activity:

With your family, share some Bible stories about how Jesus treated various people he met. Who were some of the people Jesus spent time with? How did Jesus treat them? How did they feel after spending time with Jesus? Think of people at work, school and church who might have the same feelings as the people with whom Jesus spent time. As Jesus’ followers, how do we treat others? How do we hope they will feel after spending time with us? Pray for people you know who may be feeling lonely, left out or abandoned. Have each family member choose one person to treat with Jesus’ love and compassion. Remind each family member that God always offers us forgiveness if we fall short.

Prayer:

God of grace, Thank you for your love for the least and the lost among us. And thank you for your tender care for me. I want to be your hands, your feet and your voice in our world this week. Open doors for me, Lord, to represent you and then give me the courage and obedience to walk through those open doors. Help me grow in your grace. Amen.

3.27.09

Daily Scripture: John 13:1-30

¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

¹⁸ “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

¹⁹ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

²¹ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

²² His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. ²³ One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

²⁵ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Festival, or to give something to the poor. ³⁰ As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

The sermon on March 29 will be about Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. John wrote about the meaning of the bread and wine in John 6:30-59. In this passage he takes the meal as a given. Instead, he shows us Jesus’ servant heart in action. Notice the tragic deeper meaning of “it was night” in John 13:30.

• Palestine was dusty, and most people wore sandals. Having a servant wash your guests’ feet was not a symbol, but a practical act. How did Jesus explain to his shocked disciples the meaning of his doing this menial task? What are some practical ways you can “wash the feet” of your fellow Christians?
• John weaves the ideas of light and darkness all the way through his story of Jesus (John1:4-9, 8:12, and in chapter 12, which we read yesterday). Now we see Judas turn from “the light of the world” and walk into the night. How do you keep your vision focused on the light rather than the darkness?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Dagney Pullin at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.26.09

Daily Scripture: Luke 21:1-4; John 12:20-37

Luke 21

¹ As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

John 12:20-37

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up ^[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they are going. ³⁶ Put your trust in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

The widow’s devout generosity was such a contrast to the hostile authorities and the betraying Judas. Jesus noticed and prized it. The Greek pilgrims who asked for him were a sign that his self-giving on the cross would conquer hearts (verse 32). In its radical, self-sacrificing way, His Kingdom would triumph.

• We sometimes use the phrase “all in” to describe a person who is completely committed to a belief or a course of action. How, quite literally, was the widow Jesus noticed in the Temple “all in” for God’s Kingdom? In what ways are you “all in” with Jesus? In what ways, if any, are you holding back?
• Jesus said unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains but a single kernel. When it dies, it bears many seeds. How does this image explain the spiritual power of Jesus’ death? What goals or ambitions, if any, might need to die in order for your life to have the fullest spiritual impact?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Jeff Clinger at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.25.09

Daily Scripture: Matthew 22:1-10, 23:1-39

Matthew 22

¹ Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

⁴ “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

⁵ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. ⁶ The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

⁸ “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹ Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ ¹⁰ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 23

¹ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

^13-14 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

¹⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and then you make that convert twice as much a child of hell as you are.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gift on the altar is bound by the oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

²⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

²⁹ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. ³⁰ And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your ancestors!

³³ “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? ³⁴ Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. ³⁵ And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

In Jesus’ very pointed story, a king held a wedding banquet. Amazingly, to their great loss, the guests he invited turned down the invitation. Then Jesus bluntly laid out the case against the religious rulers plotting his death. At the end, his holy anger shifted to aching words of sadness and regret.

• Jesus told so many stories like this one that turn our usual expectations upside down. Is it good or bad news to you that, in the end, anyone the servants found, the bad as well as the good, made up the banquet crowd? Are you open to sharing heaven’s banquet with anyone God invites?
• Jesus addressed the same rulers who, while making pious speeches, were paying Judas to betray him. In what areas are you tempted to sound more peaceful, loving or holy than you really are? How can you set pretense aside? Are you willing to let Jesus gather you under his wings just as you are?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Nicole Conard at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.24.09

Daily Scripture: Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6

Mark 14:10-11

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Luke 22

¹ Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

Judas spent three years with Jesus, but he never gave up control of his heart and will. Yesterday we read that John saw him as a money-hungry embezzler. Today we see him selling his knowledge of Jesus’ whereabouts. Luke says Satan entered him—but, tragically, it was Judas who opened the door to that.

• Judas may have realized that Jesus had no intention of being a conquering, militaryMessiah. Perhaps he hoped to force Jesus’ hand through this betrayal. Are there any areas of life where you think you know a better way than God’s? Pray for clarity in understanding what God wants. Then submit your will to God’s.
• Judas may have betrayed Jesus (his teacher, mentor, friend and Lord) for no larger reason that sheer greed. Have you ever been betrayed by someone you loved and trusted? If so, invite Jesus into your deepest being today to begin healing the wounds left by betrayal. He knows exactly how it feels.

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Molly Simpson at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.23.09

Daily Scripture: Mark 14:1-9; John 12:1-8

Mark 14

¹ Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. ² “But not during the Festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

John 12

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:

Someone (probably Jesus) had healed Simon, “the Leper,” or he could not have hosted a dinner like this. Mark identifies the host; John names the woman, as well as the disciple who criticized her lavish act. Jesus, keenly aware that within 48 hours he would be crucified, said Mary had anointed him in advance of his burial.

• Imagine the deep love and gratitude that led Mary to do this extravagant act for Jesus. What does Jesus’ response say about how much her fervent love meant to him as he faced death? How can you show your love for Jesus, both in your inner “sacred space” and outwardly, with Mary’s spontaneity and urgency?
• “Leave her alone,” Jesus said to those who criticized Mary’s act of worship. Are you ever critical of the way someone else praises or serves God? How can this story help you move beyond a critical spirit to value the uniqueness of each giver and each gift?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by Pastor Andrew Conard at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

3.22.09

Weekly Prayer:

Lord Jesus, at times I’m like the healed leper, grateful for some wonderful physical blessing. Sometimes I’m like the pardoned prostitute, pouring out thanks for your mercy and love. But now and again I’m tempted to be like Judas, bitter and let down because you haven’t done what I wanted. Forgive me, and keep me grateful. Amen.

Prayer Tip:

Have you ever felt blocked in your prayer life?  One person described such blockage as prayers that “ascend to the ceiling but stop there.”  Feeling blocked in prayer is a feeling that your words/thoughts are not reaching God.  Not always, but sometimes, there may be a forgiveness issue that blocks our prayers.  Maybe we need to ask God to forgive us for something we said or did.  Or maybe it was something that we didn’t say or do that we should have.  Theologians have called these sins of commission and sins of omission.  Or maybe it is a forgiveness issue that we are working through with somebody else that hinders our prayers.   If you do ever feel blocked in your prayer life, consider the issue of forgiveness and talk with God about it.  You may find that, just by having that conversation with God, your prayer life will move forward from that point!

Did you know that the United Methodist hymnal can be used as a prayer book?  If we don’t have the words or don’t know what to pray, sometimes the words of a hymn can serve as our prayer.  If forgiveness is an issue for you today, consider the words to Hymn 260 “Help Us Accept Each Other.”  I can’t remember singing this hymn, but the words, written by Fred Kaan, touch my heart:

Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and life.

If you don’t have one in your home, consider buying a United Methodist Hymnal.   (They’re available at The Well.)  Use some of rich theology found in the words to the hymns as your prayers.
–Rev. Laurie Barnes, Pastor of Prayer Ministries

Join us for worship today–click here for information on worship times and locations.  If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at live.cor.org.

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