Independece or Pride

Trading Fierce Independence
Glynnis Whitwer


“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.’” 2 Kings 4:3 (NIV 2011)

Problems. I prefer to keep them to myself. Being fiercely independent, my instinct is to slam the cellar door shut at the first sign of high winds. In other words, no one’s getting in until the storm is past. I’ll let God in, no problem. But you — I keep out.

Over the years, God has challenged me on this independent approach, calling it was it is: pride.

It’s not overt arrogance, but by keeping others at a distance, it implies I’m all-sufficient and don’t need your help. Plus, the insecure little girl in me worries that if you see weakness in my life, you’ll question my competency. As so, I’ve kept to myself, creating a prideful façade of control.

That didn’t work very well, however. Repeatedly, God has called me to a place of greater interdependence with others. He’s worked miracles in my life when I’ve humbly asked for prayer. He’s broken down walls of distance when I’ve allowed people to see the real me. I’ve seen His hand move at the request of my godly friends.

It’s now obvious to me God designed us to work together. We are pieces of the same puzzle, and life makes more sense when we are connected.

There’s a story in the Old Testament that shows God’s plan for interdependence. It’s found in the book of 2 Kings and concerns a widow who had a big problem. She needed resources, but the coin jar was empty. Her husband died, leaving her with no means of support, and a pile of debts she couldn’t pay. Creditors demanded restitution. Since there was no money, they planned to take her children as slaves.

Desperate, she sought help from Elisha, a man known to be set apart for God. Elisha asked her to do something unusual: go to all her neighbors and request empty jars … lots of them. Then, she was to return home, take what little oil she had left and pour it into the jars.

The widow did as Elisha instructed. When she returned home, she started pouring. As each jar filled, her sons brought her another. They filled every borrowed jar with oil. Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay the creditors and live off the rest. She did.

What I love about this story is that the quantity of the miracle oil was in direct proportion to the number of neighbors she asked for help. If she had asked five neighbors, that’s how much oil she would have had. Ten neighbors meant ten jars. And so on. The more people the widow asked for help, the greater God’s provision.

There’s another part of the story not told by the Bible passage, but I can’t help but wonder if it happened. At some point, the widow would have returned the borrowed jars. When she did, I imagine she would have told each neighbor what God had done for her, and how that neighbor played a part in the miracle. What a testimony that must have been!

God could have worked a miracle in any way, but He chose to involve each member of that little neighborhood. I imagine they were never the same after being part of something so amazing.

This story speaks clearly to me. God often plans to meet my needs through others. Yet if I keep my problems to myself, I might hinder His plan to bless my friends and broadcast His faithfulness. I’m learning to deny the lies of a prideful spirit in exchange for a humble plea for help. I’m trading my fierce independence for God’s plan of community.

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve kept to myself, believing I have everything necessary to solve my problems. In doing so, I may have missed Your plan for meeting my needs through others. Help me to identify pride and submit it to You. Help me to have a humble and teachable spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Trails

When you encounter various trials...

by Taylor Johnson

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1: 2-3

Studying the Word is crucial to growing in your faith. Thank you for taking that step today! These verses from James have really challenged me. Recently, life has been hitting me hard. Family relationships have been strained, finding myself as beautiful is something that lurks over my head all day, and challenging myself to love others as I am loved by the Lord. James was a bond-servant to Christ. In other words, he chose to follow Christ- not because he was "forced into it." When I am mocked or have trials and life seems rocky, I now find it a blessing in disguise. I know that the Lord will use my trials.

I want to remind you that it did not click over night for me that trials are a blessing, it took time. I encourage you to thank the Lord for your trials knowing that He will reward you for taking advantage of the trials in your life.

Reflection:

Are you honoring the Lord when challenged with trials? Are you thanking Him for the challenges you face, knowing He loves you?

Application Step:

Today, remember that your trials will bring you closer to the Lord. If you have to walk through the fire to get closer to the Lord- do it! The Lord knows what you can handle. Today, praise Him for the trials.

Prayer:

Holy Father, I pray that my heart and mind would come to You humbly, knowing that I am nothing without You. Oh, Father, I pray that today Father God, I would thank you for my trials, I pray I would seek You first when I feel overwhelmed or forgotten. Give me the desire to come to You first before seeking anyone else. Lord, today challenge me to be a bond-servant if I already not one! Father, You are beautiful! May I walk in Your ways today!

Peer Pressure

How do you handle peer pressure?

by Simi Akinwande

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

There are times we often feel to act a certain way, say things, dress in a manner to please others or to be accepted by society. The peer pressures of this world can make us conform to the way the world lives and make us take part in those activities that are wrong. People can manipulate your thoughts and actions but ultimately the only person who has any control over your attitude and values is you.

Most times doing what is right can be seen as a cowardly act by others, however the Bible teaches that whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin (James 4:17) therefore make it a lifelong goal to learn to live faithfully for God and reject the negative influences of media, music, friends and society.

Saying NO to taking drugs, saying NO when your boyfriend asks you to go further, saying NO to cheating in that exam paper, saying NO to stealing, saying NO to lying for a friend, saying NO to racism, saying NO to injustice....the answer is YES when someone asks if you are Christian as your responses to the above is a true reflection of Christ.

Being able to stand up for what is right is only by the grace of God, so ask God to always be your mouthpiece and give you the confidence to stand up for what is right.

Reflection:

Do you struggle with saying or doing things to please others instead of rather doing those things which pleases God for the fear of being classified as the "odd one"?

Application Step:

Take small steps by practicing saying No without feeling guilty or apologetic and sticking to your decisions. Transform your thinking by always remembering that God's approval has more value than what the world thinks of you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me just the way I am; even with my imperfections. Lord I struggle with saying No to what I know is wrong, Father give me the boldness to stand for what is right in my everyday life, and help me turn away from what displeases you. Thank you for your constant love. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Are you choosing gratitude?

Are you choosing gratitude?

by Heather Hart

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

Hebrews 12:28

Have you ever just had 'one of those days'? One of those days when you were just not in a good mood, and you didn't even know why? That's where I was at today. But then I read something that made me stop, and in the end, greatly improved my mood. It wasn't anything drastic, not a funny joke, or even good news, but something simple. I read that gratitude was a choice, that I could choose it. Even if I didn't think I had anything to be grateful for, I did. We can be thankful that we don't have a canker sore, or a big pimple on our nose. We can be grateful that we don't have a broken toe or a sore throat. We can be grateful that our houses didn't burn down or that no one started a rumor about us or told a secret that was between us. We can be grateful that we know Jesus and are not going through life alone.

It's a choice. We can choose to focus on the negative, the positive, or even nothing and just walk around in 'one of those moods'... What will you choose today?

Reflection:

Are you choosing to get grateful, even when you aren't sure that you want to?

Application step:

Today concentrate on all the things that you have to be grateful for. When things start to go wrong, start to make a mental list of all the things going right!

Prayer:

Father God, I am so grateful for all that you do for me. Please forgive me for not always seeing it. Help me to do a better job. Thank you for creating me, and blessing me with such a wonderful life filled with many good things. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

To purchase a print copy of these devotionals click here: www.findyourtruebeauty.com/devos-book

For more help finding your true beauty in Christ, visit: www.FindYourTrueBeauty.com

What is he calling you to do?

What is He calling you to do?

Written by Julie LaJoe

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

The calling God gives to our lives is not always easy. Sometimes I think of Mary and the special call God gave her for her life. It could not have been easy to be a young, pregnant, unmarried woman asked to conduct the task of bearing and raising a son. But not only any son, God's son, Jesus Christ. I try to imagine how she must have felt to know that true prize of her life was in the day-to-day tasks by which God asked her to be part of His miraculous plan for mankind.

Sometimes, it warms my heart to know that all in His good timing; God is going to work out the steps of my life as I continue in the faith-walk journey I am on. It does not always seem fair or right when it seems like others my age have had things come to them easily, without arising questions or causing strain. Still, I realize that what God has in store for my life is great not in spite of but because of the trials and the uncertainties I live through.

Reflection:

What goal are you pressing onward toward? Is it one of your own making or one you allow God to sprout and mature in you?

Application Step:

In the day-to-day tasks that contribute to your goals in life, remember that God is also growing you toward the calling He has for you in your faith walk with Jesus. He will never ask you to do more than you can, but he does have a prize awaiting you if you tread steadfastly after Him. Remember He is the prize that is so worth the journey every day!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the highest call on my life which is who I am in you, Lord. In knowing that you are with me every step of the way, I realize that my goals and movements through life can bring immense glory to you. Please help me share my daily walk with you by remembering who you are and why I serve you.

Choose your Weapon

Choose your weapon!

by Heather Hart

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:4

When you have a problem, where do you turn? Do you talk with a friend, or pick up a book? Maybe you go on-line. While all of those things can be helpful, they are all worldly weapons, and we are fighting a spiritual battle. We need spiritual weapons to truly win the war. There are so many strongholds the devil can have on us, we usually just write them off as having a bad temper or not handling stress well. But the truth is that we are fighting a spiritual war, and those are area's that need reinforcements!

Think about it, would you try to clean the toilet with a screwdriver, or how about trying to study for your math test using your science book? How well would that work? Probably not very well. It's the same thing with when we have problems. If we are stressed out, frustrated, angry, or worried, we need to not look to earthly things, but we need to understand that those are spiritual warfare. The devil can use all of those things against us. We need to look to God to bring us through those things. We need to turn to our spiritual weapons: our Bibles, prayer, fasting. Only spiritual weapons have the power to demolish strongholds in our lives.

Reflection:
Are the Bible and prayer your first choice for tools, or are they a last resort?

Application step:
Today when you have a problem, turn to God first. Pray about it, and open His book to see what He has already said about it.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for giving us Your Word. Thank you for allowing us to talk to you, and for comforting us in the midst of our battles. You are an awesome God, and I am just so thankful to have a relationship with you. Help me to see things your way. Help me to recognize the battles that I'm in, and help me to choose the right weapon to deal with them. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Encouraging words?

Do your words encourage others, or put them down?

By Kaylee Harris

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

Do any of you have siblings? Well, I have 6... all younger than me. At the end of a long day at school the last thing I want to come home to is "Sissy, will you play Barbie's?" or "Sissy, why is the sky blue and not pink?" My brothers and sisters truly test all of my limits every single day. As much as I want to scream at the top of my lungs "LEAVE ME ALONE" and lock myself in my room... I don't. There are so many times when I want to call them ugly names or be mean... but when it comes down to it, I am their hero...cooler than Mom and Dad but old enough to be the boss too. If I say things that tear them down or hurt their feelings no one benefits.

So, regardless of weather you have siblings or not... Watch your tone and words. Only let joyful things come from your mouth. Remind yourself of the simple golden rule of "Treat others how you want to be treated." (Luke 6:31) Treat others with respect, and respect and joy are sure to follow.

Reflection:
It is easy to say uplifting things to your friends. What kind of things do you say to people you do not like?

Application step:
Today, pretend that the words you say are to God. What would HE think about being called stupid for asking a question in class?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Today help me think about what I say before I say it. I realize words are like toothpaste...once they come out, you can't put them back in. Help me to say words that bring joy to others and make me a joy to be around. Forgive me where I have failed you Lord, and help me to bring glory to You and Your kingdom. I love you Father

The Truth about Beauty

From the book Mirror Mirror by Shelley Hitz
Edited by Heather Hart

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32

What is the truth? Other words for truth are authentic, genuine, honest, or real. So again I ask what is the truth? It's not what others think about us, or even what others want us to be, but being who we were created to be. We were created by Christ, and for Christ (Colossians 1:16). We were created to have a relationship with Jesus. We were created to be co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We were created to be filled by God (Ephesians 3:19). We were created to display the splendor of God (Isaiah 61:3).

What does it mean to display the splendor of God? It means that we were created to have true beauty, inner beauty. It's sometimes easy to strive for outward beauty, because that's what the world wants, but God wants us to have true beauty.

This is the picture I get of my true beauty: I see my beauty radiating from the inside out. That when I love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind (Matthew 22:37), it will naturally spill over to all my relationships and every area of my life. It's as if God's light and beauty is in my heart. And it is being pumped into every cell of my body, my brain, my muscles, and my organs through my bloodstream. And as long as God's Spirit is living inside of me, I will have that beauty radiating from the inside out. People will see the light in my eyes. They'll be drawn to the joy in my smile. And they'll want to find comfort in my friendship.

Reflection:
Have you been settling for this world's beauty instead of discovering your true beauty?

Application step:
Ask God to help you change your thoughts and desires about beauty. Start focusing more on your inner self then your outward appearance.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for creating me. Please guide me on my path to finding my true beauty that lies in you. Help me to grow my relationship with you, to be filled by you, and display your splendor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

by Renee Swope
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call Him Immanuel, God with us.” Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Plans for the perfect Christmas danced across the stage of my mind. My mom, my brother and my husband's parents were coming to see us. Plus my dad and his wife would be here Christmas day, and JJ’s brother and family were coming too. Inviting our out-of-town families to our home for the holidays for the first time was a dream come true. The fact that they could all come at some point between Christmas and New Years was just short of a miracle.
I'm so embarrassed to admit this, but by the time everyone got here I couldn’t wait for them to leave.

In the midst of all the preparations, I'd gotten tangled up in Christmas lights and unrealistic expectations. It all started when my husband and sons petitioned for blinking colored lights on the tree. We don’t do colored lights on the tree. I am a “white lights” kind of girl, I insisted. But then JJ suggested our decorating decisions should be a “family activity” that year. Who was this man and why had he not brought this up in pre-marriage counseling? I wondered.
The control freak in me started to freak out. Don’t get in the way of my perfect Christmas with white lights that make me and my home feel peaceful.

Further attempts to have the perfect house, perfect menu and perfect table settings were stealing my holiday joy. This being my first time hosting a holiday dinner, I'd failed to notice that my Christmas place mats didn’t coordinate with my everyday cloth napkins, and I didn’t have festive napkin rings. Worst of all, I didn’t know how to cook a turkey.
In the midst of all the holiday obligations I’d placed on myself, I experienced one of my worst Christmas days ever. I had a house full of people, but an oh-so-empty heart.
As I walked through my living room picking up wrapping paper, I wondered why my dreams of the “perfect Christmas” hadn’t come true. Many of the elements seemed to be in place: kids running around with remote control cars, adults on the couch snoring to the tune of Jingle Bells, and grown men playing sidewalk hockey in the driveway. We’d lit Advent candles and set out the nativities. Still, something was missing.

Trying to escape the holiday noise, I went upstairs to my bedroom and sat down on the floor in my walk-in closet. Taking a deep breath, I opened my Bible to read the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2. Slowly, I let each word remind me of that first Christmas night and God’s promise that came true in Bethlehem. “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger...” Luke 2:7 (NIV).

A cross reference led me to Isaiah 7:14: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel, God with us.”

Closing my eyes, I pictured Mary wrapping baby Jesus. Her hands carefully folding each corner of cloth. Like a beautiful bow on the perfect Christmas gift, she placed a kiss on his forehead.
That’s when I realized what had been missing. In the hustle and bustle of creating the perfect Christmas, I’d forgotten to unwrap the perfect gift, the most important gift of all, the gift of Immanuel, God with us.

Bowing my head, I opened my hands and my heart, and unwrapped God’s presence in my closet that day. I invited Jesus to bring calm to my anxious heart. To bring His perspective to my expectations and to help me enjoy the gifts of my family that were waiting downstairs. Simply pausing to acknowledge and thank Jesus for being with me brought peace to my heart unlike anything white lights and matching table settings could ever bestow.
It ended up being the perfect Christmas after all!

Dear Lord, no matter how busy life gets or how lonely I feel this Christmas, I want to unwrap the gift of Your presence each day. Help me to see You, hear Your voice speak to my heart, and pay attention when You lead me with Your peace and perspective. I seek Your purpose in all of my plans. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Vent/Gossip

"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)

I read this verse in another devotional today and it hit me that sometimes we vent our feelings to people for various reasons. Sometimes we want to validated for how we are feeling. You know get your friends all on your side. Other times we are so upset that we just can't find it in ourselves to stop from venting.

Other times still we vent for the sake of making sure that others know what we are feeling and that someone has hurt us. In that process we have shared pain and gossip.

I am guilty of this. I have had to try hard to keep my tongue in situations and at times have not been successful. I remember a time at work that I vented my feelings about how much time a project took that I was working on because I didn't have the help of a co-worker. While I wanted a little praise for work well done, I really wanted my boss to know that I did all the work and that the other person did not do their part.

I pray that I don't vent my feelings but process them and hold my words until when and where it is wise. I don't want to bring myself or another down from my vent feelings.

Becky Sosa 9/23/2010

Nothing More Nothing Less

Rachel Olsen"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (MSG)
Lord, how can I become content with just who I am, nothing more and nothing less?
I'm certainly prone to want to be more, or less, than I am. To be smarter, prettier, funnier, fitter. To be more productive, perky and high energy. And then also to be lower key, calmer, more level-headed and focused.
I want to have better self-awareness, and yet I want to be less concerned about what others think of me.
I want to be a better cook, to sing beautifully and to keep th e house neat without so much perceived effort. And did I mention fuller, thicker hair would be nice too? I want to be a better writer – one that's both highly creative and meticulously organized. And I want fewer propensities to run late, slack off or procrastinate.
Yes, I want to be both more and less of me.
Jesus shushes my endless listing of the things I want to change about myself – to improve about myself so I can have what I'm sure would be a better life. He asks me instead to humbly make peace with it all. To lay down my notions of a better woman and a better life by letting Him be the judge of that. To simply take what I'm given and offer it back to Him, in service and surrender. Willingly assuming that I am enough – I have what it takes to live a great life. One that pleases God, others and self.
Today's key verse is among several in the Bible that fuels a core convi ction I hold: When I stop striving to create a life for myself, I find the life God creates for me. This, my friend, is a powerful truth, a divine secret. His life for me begins precisely where mine ends. My life ends in my sin and striving and begins again in God's grace and power. His empowering indwelling affords me everything I truly need and nothing I truly don't.
Do you too long to be content with just who you are in Christ – nothing more and nothing less? Jesus addresses us both in Matthew 23:11-12, ""Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." (MSG)
Amazingly, God's grace humbles a woman without degrading her, and His favor lifts her up without inflating her. The life she finds in Him makes her the proud owner of everything money can't buy – a life of contentment.Dear Lord, help me to quiet my critical, striving spirit today and gratefully accept who I am and where I'm at in this moment. For You are here, ready to invisibly empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold your definition of "plenty" – nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Good Side of Clonflict

The Good Side of Conflict
9 Sep 2010Lysa TerKeurst"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)When I was in my early twenties, there was nothing I disliked more than conflict. I won't use the tired cliché that I avoided it like the plague. But, since I just used it anyhow, I'll admit I tried to navigate around conflict at any cost.I was a 'stuff it and smile' kind of girl. The problem with pretending to be fine when you're really not, is all that pent up steam will eventually come out. And if you've ever held your hand too close to steam, you know how it can burn.A much healthier approach to the inevitable conflicts we all must deal with is to face the issue head on with grace and humility having asked ourselves one very cruci al question. This question is so crucial that might I dare say not asking it could lead to extreme conflict escalation rather than relationship restoration.So, what's this crucial question?Am I trying to prove or improve? That's the question.

In other words, is my desire in this conflict to prove that I am right or to improve the relationship at hand?When I try to prove I am right, I use the circumstances of the conflict as an arsenal to attack the other person. I come armed with past hurts and offenses ready to state my case. I'm tempted to tear down the other person. I react from a place of hurt and anger and can often say things I later regret.On the other hand, when my desire is to improve the relationship, I seek to understand where the other person is coming from and I care enough about the relationship to fight for it rather than against it.

Instead of reacting out of anger, I pause and let the Holy Spiri t interrupt my first impulses. I tackle the issues, not the person.Here are some great questions to ask when we're dealing with conflict out of a desire to improve a relationship:• Can you help me understand why you feel this way?• Why don't we both agree to stick to the issue at hand and not pull in past issues?• What is your desired outcome in this situation?• How can we meet in the middle on this issue?My husband I have renamed what we used to call "fights." We now call them "growth opportunities." And the more we've been practicing these principles, the less conflicts we've been having.But I won't tie this devotion up in a neat bow and end all "cheerio." While Art and I are doing great right now and have had very few "growth opportunities" lately, conflicts with others seem to always be around the corner. So please hear my heart, I'm not saying all of this is easy.

Just this week I've had to tackle some growth opportunities that made me feel like I had fire crackers burning through my veins.Maybe you can relate.What I will say is that it's possible to let those conflicts lead us to better places in our relationships. Improved places. And that is the good side of conflict.Dear Lord, help me to realize that with each conflict I face I can make the choice to improve the relationship rather than try and prove I'm right.

This is hard, Lord, really hard. But, I want to grow in this area and I know this is a good place to start. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

When People Let You Down

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8 (NASB)

Disappointment feels like a heavy rock sinking to the bottom of my spirit. I've felt disappointed in many situations – a business opportunity that didn't pan out, a writing door that didn't open, and a relationship that broke my young heart.The heaviest disappointments for me, however, stem from people. And not just any people; people who I'm closest to. People who turn out to be not at all what I hoped they'd be, or not who I thought they were.I know I'm not alone in wondering how to deal with people who let me down. Just this week a friend said with a choke in her voice, "I wish my mom and I could be closer, but I don't think we ever will be." Another woman said with despondency, "My husband and I just don't talk." I've heard the edge of bitterness in women's voices as they vow never to trust again because of a friend's betrayal. And most of us have swallowed the hopelessness that comes with a broken heart, "I thought he was the one."I've tried different ways to handle disappointments in relationships. One way is to ignore the disappointment, to shut it in a box and hope the lid holds. Another way is to gloss over it with a quick statement such as, "People will let you down, but God never will." True, but does this really help me process the hurt?One morning in my quiet time I was pouring out my sadness, anger and disappointment about a close relationship. As the tears slipped down my face, I begged God to show up. What do I do with all this? Show me and I'll do it because what I've been doing is not working.

Clear as a bell ringing in my spirit, Jesus said, Grieve.

Really? I questioned. I remembered that Jesus knew all about disappointment – Peter's denial, Judas' betrayal, and the disciples falling asleep during His anguish before His crucifixion (Matthew 26). I remembered people in the Bible who were well acquainted with people they loved letting them down, such as Joseph or Job. I felt reassured that Jesus wouldn't misunderstand my sadness as a lack of faith.So I cried, feeling every ounce of the disappointment. I told God all the things I wish were different about this relationship, all the things I thought this person had done wrong, and what I wish this person would do differently.After the winds of grief subsided, I was done.

Grieving was the bridge I had to cross to move beyond the disappointment. On the other side I found myself in a place where I could embrace the relationship for what it is, not what it's not.On the other side of grief lies a place where we can consider how to respond to the person who disappointed us. There are a number of possible responses. Sometimes we need to talk to the person or get godly counsel. Other times we may need to create healthy boundaries, or we may need just to let it go. Only after we've allowed ourselves to grieve, however, will we know how to respond to this person in the way that God wants. Then the words, "People will let you down, but God never will," will be truly comforting, not just empty words.

Dear Lord, I'm so thankful that when it feels like no one else understands, You do. You understand about being disappointed in people but You loved them in the midst of that. Lord, I want to follow Your example. I'm thankful You know this sadness is a part of healing from the pain of disappointment. Give me guidance in handling this -I trust that You can bring good out of this. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

By Melanie Chitwood

More on sharing the truth

Every time we share that message we are personally involved in what God is doing in building His eternal kingdom.

What can we expect as we take the gospel out of self-edification and share it with others? We can prepare for and accept hostility from some listeners (Matthew 10:16-18, 21-25). There will be men who “will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues, and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles (v. 17). The history of Christianity is the history of persecution and martyrdom for the cause of Christ. More people have been persecuted and died for Christ during the last hundred years than in the previous two thousand years.

We can expect God’s power and sustaining grace to meet all of our necessities as we take the good news to a lost world. Jesus said, “When they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak” (v. 19). Those are instructions for martyrs and Christians under persecution, not preachers getting ready for Sunday morning without doing their homework. The Holy Spirit gives boldness to testify under all circumstances for Christ. “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (v. 20). Success in personal witnessing is simply sharing Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and then leaving the results up to God.

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006

missions

"“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'

Acts 1:8"

Many of the youth here at Calvary Baptist are about to embark on a two week long mission trip to Louisiana and Florida.
Those of you on the trip you need to spend time in the word this week. You are missionaries and will be sharing the love and the truth of Christ to the lost.
In Acts he was telling them to go out and be witnesses to the end of the earth. Next week you are going to be in New Orleans and helping out there. It might not seem like the ends of the earth to you, but the lost need you. I will post a diffrent scripture and/or devotional about mission work on the blog this week.

Becky

Saturday Passion Week Reading

1 Corinthians 15 (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 15
The Fact of Christ's Resurrection
1Now (A)I make known to you, brethren, the (B)gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, (C)in which also you stand,
2by which also you are saved, (D)if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, (E)unless you believed in vain.

3For (F)I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died (G)for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures,

4and that He was buried, and that He was (I)raised on the third day (J)according to the Scriptures,

5and that (K)He appeared to (L)Cephas, then (M)to the twelve.

6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some (N)have fallen asleep;

7then He appeared to (O)James, then to (P)all the apostles;

8and last of all, as to one untimely born, (Q)He appeared to me also.

9For I am (R)the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I (S)persecuted the church of God.

10But by (T)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I (U)labored even more than all of them, yet (V)not I, but the grace of God with me.

11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there (W)is no resurrection of the dead?

13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

14and (X)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He (Y)raised [a]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; (Z)you are still in your sins.

18Then those also who (AA)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are (AB)of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection
20But now Christ (AC)has been raised from the dead, the (AD)first fruits of those who (AE)are asleep.
21For since (AF)by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22For (AG)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23But each in his own order: Christ (AH)the first fruits, after that (AI)those who are Christ's at (AJ)His coming,

24then comes the end, when He hands over (AK)the kingdom to the (AL)God and Father, when He has abolished (AM)all rule and all authority and power.

25For He must reign (AN)until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

26The last enemy that will be (AO)abolished is death.

27For (AP)HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET But when He says, "(AQ)All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

28When (AR)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that (AS)God may be all in all.

29Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

30Why are we also (AT)in danger every hour?

31I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AU)I die daily.

32If from human motives I (AV)fought with wild beasts at (AW)Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, (AX)LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

33(AY)Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

34(AZ)Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have (BA)no knowledge of God (BB)I speak this to your shame.

35But (BC)someone will say, "How are (BD)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?"

36(BE)You fool! That which you (BF)sow does not come to life unless it dies;

37and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

38But God gives it a body just as He wished, and (BG)to each of the seeds a body of its own.

39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.

40There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42(BH)So also is the resurrection of the dead It is sown (BI)a perishable body, it is raised (BJ)an imperishable body;

43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in (BK)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

44it is sown a (BL)natural body, it is raised a (BM)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

45So also it is written, "The first (BN)MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL " The (BO)last Adam became a (BP)life-giving spirit.

46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

47The first man is (BQ)from the earth, (BR)earthy; the second man is from heaven.

48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, (BS)so also are those who are heavenly.

49Just as we have (BT)borne the image of the earthy, [b]we (BU)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection
50Now I say this, brethren, that (BV)flesh and blood cannot (BW)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit (BX)the imperishable.
51Behold, I tell you a (BY)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be (BZ)changed,

52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for (CA)the trumpet will sound, and (CB)the dead will be raised imperishable, and (CC)we will be changed.

53For this perishable must put on (CD)the imperishable, and this (CE)mortal must put on immortality.

54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "(CF)DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

55"(CG)O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

56The sting of (CH)death is sin, and (CI)the power of sin is the law;

57but (CJ)thanks be to God, who gives us the (CK)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58(CL)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in (CM)the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.


Footnotes:
a.1 Corinthians 15:15 I.e. the Messiah
b.1 Corinthians 15:49 Two early mss read let us also
Cross references:
A.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 2:16; Gal 1:11
B.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 3:6; 4:15
C.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 5:2; 11:20; 2 Cor 1:24
D.1 Corinthians 15:2 : Rom 11:22
E.1 Corinthians 15:2 : Gal 3:4
F.1 Corinthians 15:3 : 1 Cor 11:23
G.1 Corinthians 15:3 : John 1:29; Gal 1:4; Heb 5:1, 3; 1 Pet 2:24
H.1 Corinthians 15:3 : Is 53:5-12; Matt 26:24; Luke 24:25-27; Acts 8:32; 17:2; 26:22
I.1 Corinthians 15:4 : Matt 16:21; John 2:20-ff; Acts 2:24
J.1 Corinthians 15:4 : Ps 16:8-ff; Acts 2:31; 26:22
K.1 Corinthians 15:5 : Luke 24:34
L.1 Corinthians 15:5 : 1 Cor 1:12
M.1 Corinthians 15:5 : Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36; John 20:19
N.1 Corinthians 15:6 : Acts 7:60; 1 Cor 15:18, 20
O.1 Corinthians 15:7 : Acts 12:17
P.1 Corinthians 15:7 : Luke 24:33, 36; Acts 1:3
Q.1 Corinthians 15:8 : Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18; 1 Cor 9:1
R.1 Corinthians 15:9 : 2 Cor 12:11; Eph 3:8; 1 Tim 1:15
S.1 Corinthians 15:9 : Acts 8:3
T.1 Corinthians 15:10 : Rom 12:3
U.1 Corinthians 15:10 : 2 Cor 11:23; Col 1:29; 1 Tim 4:10
V.1 Corinthians 15:10 : 1 Cor 3:6; 2 Cor 3:5; Phil 2:13
W.1 Corinthians 15:12 : Acts 17:32; 23:8; 2 Tim 2:18
X.1 Corinthians 15:14 : 1 Thess 4:14
Y.1 Corinthians 15:15 : Acts 2:24
Z.1 Corinthians 15:17 : Rom 4:25
AA.1 Corinthians 15:18 : 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 14:13
AB.1 Corinthians 15:19 : 1 Cor 4:9; 2 Tim 3:12
AC.1 Corinthians 15:20 : Acts 2:24; 1 Pet 1:3
AD.1 Corinthians 15:20 : Acts 26:23; 1 Cor 15:23; Rev 1:5
AE.1 Corinthians 15:20 : 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 14:13
AF.1 Corinthians 15:21 : Rom 5:12
AG.1 Corinthians 15:22 : Rom 5:14-18
AH.1 Corinthians 15:23 : Acts 26:23; 1 Cor 15:20; Rev 1:5
AI.1 Corinthians 15:23 : 1 Cor 6:14; 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16
AJ.1 Corinthians 15:23 : 1 Thess 2:19
AK.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Dan 2:44; 7:14, 27; 2 Pet 1:11
AL.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Eph 5:20
AM.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Rom 8:38
AN.1 Corinthians 15:25 : Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44
AO.1 Corinthians 15:26 : 2 Tim 1:10; Rev 20:14; 21:4
AP.1 Corinthians 15:27 : Ps 8:6
AQ.1 Corinthians 15:27 : Matt 11:27; 28:18; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8
AR.1 Corinthians 15:28 : Phil 3:21
AS.1 Corinthians 15:28 : 1 Cor 3:23; 12:6
AT.1 Corinthians 15:30 : 2 Cor 11:26
AU.1 Corinthians 15:31 : Rom 8:36
AV.1 Corinthians 15:32 : 2 Cor 1:8
AW.1 Corinthians 15:32 : Acts 18:19; 1 Cor 16:8
AX.1 Corinthians 15:32 : Is 22:13; 56:12; Luke 12:19
AY.1 Corinthians 15:33 : 1 Cor 6:9
AZ.1 Corinthians 15:34 : Rom 13:11
BA.1 Corinthians 15:34 : Matt 22:29; Acts 26:8
BB.1 Corinthians 15:34 : 1 Cor 6:5
BC.1 Corinthians 15:35 : Rom 9:19
BD.1 Corinthians 15:35 : Ezek 37:3
BE.1 Corinthians 15:36 : Luke 11:40
BF.1 Corinthians 15:36 : John 12:24
BG.1 Corinthians 15:38 : Gen 1:11
BH.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Dan 12:3; Matt 13:43
BI.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Rom 8:21; 1 Cor 15:50; Gal 6:8
BJ.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Rom 2:7
BK.1 Corinthians 15:43 : Phil 3:21; Col 3:4
BL.1 Corinthians 15:44 : 1 Cor 2:14
BM.1 Corinthians 15:44 : 1 Cor 15:50
BN.1 Corinthians 15:45 : Gen 2:7
BO.1 Corinthians 15:45 : Rom 5:14
BP.1 Corinthians 15:45 : John 5:21; 6:57; Rom 8:2
BQ.1 Corinthians 15:47 : John 3:31
BR.1 Corinthians 15:47 : Gen 2:7; 3:19
BS.1 Corinthians 15:48 : Phil 3:20
BT.1 Corinthians 15:49 : Gen 5:3
BU.1 Corinthians 15:49 : Rom 8:29
BV.1 Corinthians 15:50 : Matt 16:17; John 3:5
BW.1 Corinthians 15:50 : 1 Cor 6:9
BX.1 Corinthians 15:50 : Rom 2:7
BY.1 Corinthians 15:51 : 1 Cor 13:2
BZ.1 Corinthians 15:51 : 2 Cor 5:2, 4
CA.1 Corinthians 15:52 : Matt 24:31
CB.1 Corinthians 15:52 : John 5:28
CC.1 Corinthians 15:52 : 1 Thess 4:15, 17
CD.1 Corinthians 15:53 : Rom 2:7
CE.1 Corinthians 15:53 : 2 Cor 5:4
CF.1 Corinthians 15:54 : Is 25:8
CG.1 Corinthians 15:55 : Hos 13:14
CH.1 Corinthians 15:56 : Rom 5:12
CI.1 Corinthians 15:56 : Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:8
CJ.1 Corinthians 15:57 : Rom 7:25; 2 Cor 2:14
CK.1 Corinthians 15:57 : Rom 8:37; Heb 2:14; 1 John 5:4; Rev 21:4
CL.1 Corinthians 15:58 : 2 Pet 3:14
CM.1 Corinthians 15:58 : 1 Cor 16:10

Friday Passion Week Reading

John 21 (New American Standard Bible)

John 21
Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee
1After these things Jesus (A)manifested Himself (B)again to the disciples at the (C)Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.
2Simon Peter, and (D)Thomas called Didymus, and (E)Nathanael of (F)Cana in Galilee, and (G)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and (H)that night they caught nothing.

4But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not (I)know that it was Jesus.

5So Jesus said to them, "Children, (J)you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No."

6And He said to them, "(K)Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

7(L)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

8But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal (M)fire already laid and (N)fish placed on it, and bread.

10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the (O)fish which you have now caught."

11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus Provides
12Jesus said to them, "Come and have (P)breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord.
13Jesus came and took (Q)the bread and gave it to them, and the (R)fish likewise.

14This is now the (S)third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Love Motivation
15So when they had (T)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you (U)love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You " He said to him, "Tend (V)My lambs."
16He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "(W)Shepherd My sheep."

17He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him (X)the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, (Y)You know all things; You know that I love You " Jesus said to him, "(Z)Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand
18"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go."
19Now this He said, (AA)signifying by (AB)what kind of death he would glorify God And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "(AC)Follow Me!"

20Peter, turning around, saw the (AD)disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had (AE)leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"

21So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

22Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain (AF)until I come, what is that to you? You (AG)follow Me!"

23Therefore this saying went out among (AH)the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain (AI)until I come, what is that to you?"

24This is the disciple who (AJ)is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25And there are also (AK)many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.


Cross references:
A.John 21:1 : Mark 16:12; John 21:14
B.John 21:1 : John 20:19, 26
C.John 21:1 : John 6:1
D.John 21:2 : John 11:16
E.John 21:2 : John 1:45-ff
F.John 21:2 : John 2:1
G.John 21:2 : Matt 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10
H.John 21:3 : Luke 5:5
I.John 21:4 : Luke 24:16; John 20:14
J.John 21:5 : Luke 24:41
K.John 21:6 : Luke 5:4-ff
L.John 21:7 : John 13:23; 21:20
M.John 21:9 : John 18:18
N.John 21:9 : John 6:9, 11; 21:10, 13
O.John 21:10 : John 6:9, 11; 21:9, 13
P.John 21:12 : John 21:15
Q.John 21:13 : John 21:9
R.John 21:13 : John 6:9, 11; 21:9, 10
S.John 21:14 : John 20:19, 26
T.John 21:15 : John 21:12
U.John 21:15 : Matt 26:33; Mark 14:29; John 13:37
V.John 21:15 : Luke 12:32
W.John 21:16 : Matt 2:6; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2; Rev 7:17
X.John 21:17 : John 13:38
Y.John 21:17 : John 16:30
Z.John 21:17 : John 21:15, 16
AA.John 21:19 : John 12:33; 18:32
AB.John 21:19 : 2 Pet 1:14
AC.John 21:19 : Matt 8:22; 16:24; John 21:22
AD.John 21:20 : John 21:7
AE.John 21:20 : John 13:25
AF.John 21:22 : Matt 16:27; 1 Cor 4:5; 11:26; James 5:7; Rev 2:25
AG.John 21:22 : Matt 8:22; 16:24; John 21:19
AH.John 21:23 : Acts 1:15
AI.John 21:23 : Matt 16:27; 1 Cor 4:5; 11:26; James 5:7; Rev 2:25
AJ.John 21:24 : John 15:27
AK.John 21:25 : John 20:30

Thursday Passion Week Reading

John 19-20 (New American Standard Bible)

John 19
The Crown of Thorns
1Pilate then took Jesus and (A)scourged Him.
2(B)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him;

3and they began to come up to Him and say, "(C)Hail, King of the Jews!" and to (D)give Him slaps in the face.

4Pilate (E)came out again and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that (F)I find no guilt in Him."

5Jesus then came out, (G)wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold, the Man!"

6So when the chief priests and the (H)officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for (I)I find no guilt in Him."

7The Jews answered him, "(J)We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He (K)made Himself out to be the Son of God."

8Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;

9and he (L)entered into the [a]Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But (M)Jesus gave him no answer.

10So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?"

11Jesus answered, "(N)You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason (O)he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

12As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "(P)If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar."

13Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and (Q)sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but (R)in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14Now it was (S)the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the [b](T)sixth hour And he said to the Jews, "Behold, (U)your King!"

15So they cried out, "(V)Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

The Crucifixion
16So he then (W)handed Him over to them to be crucified.
17(X)They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, (Y)bearing His own cross, to the place called (Z)the Place of a Skull, which is called (AA)in Hebrew, Golgotha.

18There they crucified Him, and with Him (AB)two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.

19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, "(AC)JESUS THE NAZARENE, (AD)THE KING OF THE JEWS."

20Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written (AE)in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek.

21So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, '(AF)The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am (AG)King of the Jews.'"

22Pilate answered, "(AH)What I have written I have written."

23Then (AI)the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made (AJ)four parts, a part to every soldier and also the [c]tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.

24So they said to one another, "(AK)Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; (AL)this was to fulfill the Scripture: "THEY (AM)DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS."

25Therefore the soldiers did these things. (AN)But standing by the cross of Jesus were (AO)His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and (AP)Mary Magdalene.

26When Jesus then saw His mother, and (AQ)the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "(AR)Woman, behold, your son!"

27Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into (AS)his own household.

28After this, Jesus, (AT)knowing that all things had already been accomplished, (AU)to fulfill the Scripture, said, "(AV)I am thirsty."

29A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so (AW)they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

30Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "(AX)It is finished!" And He bowed His head and (AY)gave up His spirit.

Care of the Body of Jesus
31Then the Jews, because it was (AZ)the day of preparation, so that (BA)the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a (BB)high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was (BC)crucified with Him;

33but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately (BD)blood and water came out.

35And he who has seen has (BE)testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

36For these things came to pass (BF)to fulfill the Scripture, "(BG)NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN."

37And again another Scripture says, "(BH)THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED."

38(BI)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a (BJ)secret one for (BK)fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.

39(BL)Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, (BM)bringing a mixture of (BN)myrrh and aloes, about a (BO)hundred pounds weight.

40So they took the body of Jesus and (BP)bound it in (BQ)linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

41Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a (BR)new tomb (BS)in which no one had yet been laid.

42Therefore because of the Jewish day of (BT)preparation, since the tomb was (BU)nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 20
The Empty Tomb
1(BV)Now on the first day of the week (BW)Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw (BX)the stone already taken away from the tomb.
2So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other (BY)disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "(BZ)They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

3(CA)So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.

4The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;

5and (CB)stooping and looking in, he saw the (CC)linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.

6And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,

7and (CD)the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the (CE)linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

8So the other disciple who (CF)had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.

9For as yet (CG)they did not understand the Scripture, (CH)that He must rise again from the dead.

10So the disciples went away again (CI)to their own homes.

11(CJ)But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she (CK)stooped and looked into the tomb;

12and she saw (CL)two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

13And they said to her, "(CM)Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because (CN)they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

14When she had said this, she turned around and (CO)saw Jesus standing there, and (CP)did not know that it was Jesus.

15Jesus said to her, "(CQ)Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him (CR)in Hebrew, "(CS)Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).

17Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to (CT)My brethren and say to them, 'I (CU)ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"

18(CV)Mary Magdalene came, (CW)announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.

Jesus among His Disciples
19So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for (CX)fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "(CY)Peace be with you."
20And when He had said this, (CZ)He showed them both His hands and His side The disciples then (DA)rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21So Jesus said to them again, "(DB)Peace be with you; (DC)as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23"(DD)If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

24But (DE)Thomas, one of (DF)the twelve, called (DG)Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in (DH)His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, (DI)I will not believe."

26After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "(DJ)Peace be with you."

27Then He said to Thomas, "(DK)Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."

28Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

29Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? (DL)Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Why This Gospel Was Written
30(DM)Therefore many other (DN)signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31but these have been written (DO)so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, (DP)the Son of God; and that (DQ)believing you may have life in His name.


Footnotes:
a.John 19:9 I e governor's official residence
b.John 19:14 Perhaps 6 a m
c.John 19:23 Gr khiton, the garment worn next to the skin
Cross references:
A.John 19:1 : Matt 27:26
B.John 19:2 : Mark 15:16-19
C.John 19:3 : Matt 27:29; Mark 15:18
D.John 19:3 : John 18:22
E.John 19:4 : John 18:33, 38
F.John 19:4 : Luke 23:4; John 18:38; 19:6
G.John 19:5 : John 19:2
H.John 19:6 : Matt 26:58; John 18:3
I.John 19:6 : Luke 23:4; John 18:38; 19:4
J.John 19:7 : Lev 24:16; Matt 26:63-66
K.John 19:7 : John 5:18; 10:33
L.John 19:9 : John 18:33
M.John 19:9 : Matt 26:63; 27:12, 14; John 18:34-37
N.John 19:11 : Rom 13:1
O.John 19:11 : John 18:13, 28-ff; Acts 3:13
P.John 19:12 : Luke 23:2; John 18:33-ff
Q.John 19:13 : Matt 27:19
R.John 19:13 : John 5:2; 19:17, 20
S.John 19:14 : Matt 27:62; John 19:31, 42
T.John 19:14 : Matt 27:45; Mark 15:25
U.John 19:14 : John 19:19, 21
V.John 19:15 : Luke 23:18
W.John 19:16 : Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:25
X.John 19:17 : Matt 27:33-44; Mark 15:22-32; Luke 23:33-43
Y.John 19:17 : Matt 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 14:27; 23:26
Z.John 19:17 : Luke 23:33
AA.John 19:17 : John 19:13
AB.John 19:18 : Luke 23:32
AC.John 19:19 : Matt 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38
AD.John 19:19 : John 19:14, 21
AE.John 19:20 : John 19:13
AF.John 19:21 : John 19:14, 19
AG.John 19:21 : John 19:14, 19
AH.John 19:22 : Gen 43:14; Esth 4:16
AI.John 19:23 : Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34
AJ.John 19:23 : Acts 12:4
AK.John 19:24 : Ex 28:32; Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34
AL.John 19:24 : John 19:28, 36
AM.John 19:24 : Ps 22:18
AN.John 19:25 : Matt 27:55; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49
AO.John 19:25 : Matt 12:46
AP.John 19:25 : Luke 8:2; John 20:1, 18
AQ.John 19:26 : John 13:23
AR.John 19:26 : John 2:4
AS.John 19:27 : Luke 18:28; John 1:11; 16:32; Acts 21:6
AT.John 19:28 : John 13:1; 17:4
AU.John 19:28 : John 19:24, 36
AV.John 19:28 : Ps 69:21
AW.John 19:29 : Matt 27:48, 50; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36
AX.John 19:30 : John 17:4
AY.John 19:30 : Matt 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46
AZ.John 19:31 : John 19:14, 42
BA.John 19:31 : Deut 21:23; Josh 8:29; 10:26
BB.John 19:31 : Ex 12:16
BC.John 19:32 : John 19:18
BD.John 19:34 : 1 John 5:6, 8
BE.John 19:35 : John 15:27; 21:24
BF.John 19:36 : John 19:24, 28
BG.John 19:36 : Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20
BH.John 19:37 : Zech 12:10; Rev 1:7
BI.John 19:38 : Matt 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56
BJ.John 19:38 : Mark 15:43
BK.John 19:38 : John 7:13
BL.John 19:39 : John 3:1
BM.John 19:39 : Mark 16:1
BN.John 19:39 : Ps 45:8; Prov 7:17; Song 4:14; Matt 2:11
BO.John 19:39 : John 12:3
BP.John 19:40 : Matt 26:12; Mark 14:8; John 11:44
BQ.John 19:40 : Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 7
BR.John 19:41 : Matt 27:60
BS.John 19:41 : Luke 23:53
BT.John 19:42 : John 19:14, 31
BU.John 19:42 : John 19:20, 41
BV.John 20:1 : Matt 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-10
BW.John 20:1 : John 19:25; 20:18
BX.John 20:1 : Matt 27:60, 66; 28:2; Mark 15:46; 16:3; Luke 24:2; John 11:38
BY.John 20:2 : John 13:23
BZ.John 20:2 : John 20:13
CA.John 20:3 : Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10
CB.John 20:5 : John 20:11
CC.John 20:5 : John 19:40
CD.John 20:7 : John 11:44
CE.John 20:7 : John 19:40
CF.John 20:8 : John 20:4
CG.John 20:9 : Matt 22:29; John 2:22
CH.John 20:9 : Luke 24:26-ff, 46
CI.John 20:10 : Luke 24:12
CJ.John 20:11 : Mark 16:5
CK.John 20:11 : John 20:5
CL.John 20:12 : Matt 28:2; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4
CM.John 20:13 : John 20:15
CN.John 20:13 : John 20:2
CO.John 20:14 : Matt 28:9; Mark 16:9
CP.John 20:14 : John 21:4
CQ.John 20:15 : John 20:13
CR.John 20:16 : John 5:2
CS.John 20:16 : Matt 23:7; Mark 10:51
CT.John 20:17 : Matt 28:10
CU.John 20:17 : Mark 12:26; 16:19; John 7:33
CV.John 20:18 : John 20:1
CW.John 20:18 : Mark 16:10; Luke 24:10, 23
CX.John 20:19 : John 7:13
CY.John 20:19 : Luke 24:36; John 14:27; 20:21, 26
CZ.John 20:20 : Luke 24:39, 40; John 19:34
DA.John 20:20 : John 16:20, 22
DB.John 20:21 : Luke 24:36; John 14:27; 20:19, 26
DC.John 20:21 : John 17:18
DD.John 20:23 : Matt 16:19; 18:18
DE.John 20:24 : John 11:16
DF.John 20:24 : John 6:67
DG.John 20:24 : John 11:16
DH.John 20:25 : John 20:20
DI.John 20:25 : Mark 16:11
DJ.John 20:26 : Luke 24:36; John 14:27; 20:19, 21
DK.John 20:27 : Luke 24:40; John 20:25
DL.John 20:29 : 1 Pet 1:8
DM.John 20:30 : John 21:25
DN.John 20:30 : John 2:11
DO.John 20:31 : John 19:35
DP.John 20:31 : Matt 4:3
DQ.John 20:31 : John 3:15

Wednesday Passion Week Reading

John 17-18 (New American Standard Bible)

John 17
The High Priestly Prayer
1Jesus spoke these things; and (A)lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; (B)glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
2even as (C)You gave Him authority over all flesh, that (D)to all whom You have given Him, (E)He may give eternal life.

3"This is eternal life, that they may know You, (F)the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom (G)You have sent.

4"(H)I glorified You on the earth, (I)having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

5"Now, Father, (J)glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had (K)with You before the world was.

6"(L)I have manifested Your name to the men whom (M)You gave Me out of the world; they were (N)Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have (O)kept Your word.

7"Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You;

8for (P)the words which You gave Me (Q)I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that (R)I came forth from You, and they believed that (S)You sent Me.

9"(T)I ask on their behalf; (U)I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom (V)You have given Me; for (W)they are Yours;

10and (X)all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.

11"I am no longer in the world; and yet (Y)they themselves are in the world, and (Z)I come to You (AA)Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name (AB)which You have given Me, that (AC)they may be one even as We are.

12"While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name (AD)which You have given Me; and I guarded them and (AE)not one of them perished but (AF)the son of perdition, so that the (AG)Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World
13"But now (AH)I come to You; and (AI)these things I speak in the world so that they may have My (AJ)joy made full in themselves.
14"I have given them Your word; and (AK)the world has hated them, because (AL)they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15"I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from (AM)the evil one.

16"(AN)They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17"(AO)Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

18"As (AP)You sent Me into the world, (AQ)I also have sent them into the world.

19"For their sakes I (AR)sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be (AS)sanctified (AT)in truth.

20"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

21that they may all be one; (AU)even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, (AV)so that the world may believe that (AW)You sent Me.

Their Future Glory
22"The (AX)glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
23(AY)I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that (AZ)You sent Me, and (BA)loved them, even as You have loved Me.

24"Father, I desire that (BB)they also, whom You have given Me, (BC)be with Me where I am, so that they may see My (BD)glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before (BE)the foundation of the world.

25"O (BF)righteous Father, although (BG)the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that (BH)You sent Me;

26and (BI)I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that (BJ)the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

John 18
Judas Betrays Jesus
1When Jesus had spoken these words, (BK)He went forth with His disciples over (BL)the ravine of the Kidron, where there was (BM)a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.
2Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had (BN)often met there with His disciples.

3(BO)Judas then, having received (BP)the Roman cohort and (BQ)officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and (BR)torches and weapons.

4So Jesus, (BS)knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "(BT)Whom do you seek?"

5They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

6So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.

7Therefore He again asked them, "(BU)Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

8Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,"

9to fulfill the word which He spoke, "(BV)Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."

10Simon Peter then, (BW)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus.

11So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; (BX)the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

Jesus before the Priests
12(BY)So (BZ)the Roman cohort and the commander and the (CA)officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
13and led Him to (CB)Annas first; for he was father-in-law of (CC)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that (CD)it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

15(CE)Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into (CF)the court of the high priest,

16(CG)but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.

17(CH)Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, "(CI)You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

18Now the slaves and the (CJ)officers were standing there, having made (CK)a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were (CL)warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

19(CM)The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.

20Jesus answered him, "I (CN)have spoken openly to the world; I always (CO)taught in synagogues and (CP)in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.

21"Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."

22When He had said this, one of the (CQ)officers standing nearby (CR)struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?"

23(CS)Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"

24(CT)So Annas sent Him bound to (CU)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter's Denial of Jesus
25(CV)Now (CW)Simon Peter was standing and warming himself So they said to him, "(CX)You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."
26One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one (CY)whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in (CZ)the garden with Him?"

27Peter then denied it again, and immediately (DA)a rooster crowed.

Jesus before Pilate
28(DB)Then they led Jesus from (DC)Caiaphas into (DD)the [a]Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into (DE)the Praetorium so that (DF)they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29(DG)Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

30They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you."

31So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death,"

32to fulfill (DH)the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33Therefore Pilate (DI)entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "(DJ)Are You the King of the Jews?"

34Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

35Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"

36Jesus answered, "(DK)My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not [b]of this realm."

37Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "(DL)You say correctly that I am a king For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, (DM)to testify to the truth (DN)Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

38Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he (DO)went out again to the Jews and said to them, "(DP)I find no guilt in Him.

39"(DQ)But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?"

40So they cried out again, saying, "(DR)Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber.


Footnotes:
a.John 18:28 I e governor's official residence
b.John 18:36 Lit from here
Cross references:
A.John 17:1 : John 11:41
B.John 17:1 : John 7:39; 13:31
C.John 17:2 : John 3:35
D.John 17:2 : John 10:28
E.John 17:2 : John 6:37, 39; 17:6, 9, 24
F.John 17:3 : John 5:44
G.John 17:3 : John 3:17; 17:8, 21, 23, 25
H.John 17:4 : John 13:31
I.John 17:4 : Luke 22:37; John 4:34
J.John 17:5 : John 17:1
K.John 17:5 : John 1:1; 8:58; 17:24; Phil 2:6
L.John 17:6 : John 17:26
M.John 17:6 : John 6:37, 39; 17:2, 9, 24
N.John 17:6 : John 17:9
O.John 17:6 : John 8:51
P.John 17:8 : John 6:68; 12:49
Q.John 17:8 : John 15:15; 17:14, 26
R.John 17:8 : John 8:42; 16:27, 30
S.John 17:8 : John 3:17; 17:18, 21, 23, 25
T.John 17:9 : Luke 22:32; John 14:16
U.John 17:9 : Luke 23:34; John 17:20
V.John 17:9 : John 6:37, 39; 17:2, 6, 24
W.John 17:9 : John 17:6
X.John 17:10 : John 16:15
Y.John 17:11 : John 13:1
Z.John 17:11 : John 7:33; 17:13
AA.John 17:11 : John 17:25
AB.John 17:11 : John 17:6; Phil 2:9; Rev 19:12
AC.John 17:11 : John 17:21; Rom 12:5; Gal 3:28
AD.John 17:12 : John 17:6; Phil 2:9; Rev 19:12
AE.John 17:12 : John 6:39; 18:9
AF.John 17:12 : John 6:70
AG.John 17:12 : Ps 41:9; John 13:18
AH.John 17:13 : John 7:33; 17:11
AI.John 17:13 : John 15:11
AJ.John 17:13 : John 3:29
AK.John 17:14 : John 15:19
AL.John 17:14 : John 8:23; 17:16
AM.John 17:15 : Matt 5:37
AN.John 17:16 : John 17:14
AO.John 17:17 : John 15:3
AP.John 17:18 : John 3:17; 17:3, 8, 21, 23, 25
AQ.John 17:18 : Matt 10:5; John 4:38; 20:21
AR.John 17:19 : John 15:13
AS.John 17:19 : John 15:3
AT.John 17:19 : 2 Cor 7:14; Col 1:6; 1 John 3:18
AU.John 17:21 : John 10:38; 17:11, 23
AV.John 17:21 : John 17:8
AW.John 17:21 : John 3:17; 17:3, 8, 18, 23, 25
AX.John 17:22 : John 1:14; 17:24
AY.John 17:23 : John 10:38; 17:11, 21
AZ.John 17:23 : John 3:17; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 25
BA.John 17:23 : John 16:27
BB.John 17:24 : John 17:2
BC.John 17:24 : John 12:26
BD.John 17:24 : John 1:14; 17:22
BE.John 17:24 : Matt 25:34; John 17:5
BF.John 17:25 : John 17:11; 1 John 1:9
BG.John 17:25 : John 7:29; 15:21
BH.John 17:25 : John 3:17; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23
BI.John 17:26 : John 17:6
BJ.John 17:26 : John 15:9
BK.John 18:1 : Matt 26:30, 36; Mark 14:26, 32; Luke 22:39
BL.John 18:1 : 2 Sam 15:23; 1 Kin 2:37; 15:13; 2 Kin 23:4, 6, 12; 2 Chr 15:16; 29:16; 30:14; Jer 31:40
BM.John 18:1 : Matt 26:36; Mark 14:32; John 18:26
BN.John 18:2 : Luke 21:37; 22:39
BO.John 18:3 : Matt 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53
BP.John 18:3 : John 18:12; Acts 10:1
BQ.John 18:3 : John 7:32; 18:12, 18
BR.John 18:3 : Matt 25:1
BS.John 18:4 : John 6:64; 13:1, 11
BT.John 18:4 : John 18:7
BU.John 18:7 : John 18:4
BV.John 18:9 : John 17:12
BW.John 18:10 : Matt 26:51; Mark 14:47
BX.John 18:11 : Matt 20:22; 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42
BY.John 18:12 : Matt 26:57-ff
BZ.John 18:12 : John 18:3
CA.John 18:12 : John 18:3
CB.John 18:13 : Luke 3:2; John 18:24
CC.John 18:13 : Matt 26:3; John 11:49, 51
CD.John 18:14 : John 11:50
CE.John 18:15 : Matt 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54
CF.John 18:15 : Matt 26:3; John 18:24, 28
CG.John 18:16 : Matt 26:69; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57
CH.John 18:17 : Acts 12:13
CI.John 18:17 : John 18:25
CJ.John 18:18 : John 18:3
CK.John 18:18 : John 21:9
CL.John 18:18 : Mark 14:54, 67
CM.John 18:19 : Matt 26:59-68; Mark 14:55-65; Luke 22:63-71
CN.John 18:20 : John 7:26; 8:26
CO.John 18:20 : Matt 4:23; John 6:59
CP.John 18:20 : Matt 26:55
CQ.John 18:22 : John 18:3
CR.John 18:22 : John 19:3
CS.John 18:23 : Matt 5:39; Acts 23:2-5
CT.John 18:24 : John 18:13
CU.John 18:24 : John 18:13
CV.John 18:25 : Matt 26:71-75; Mark 14:69-72; Luke 22:58-62
CW.John 18:25 : John 18:18
CX.John 18:25 : John 18:17
CY.John 18:26 : John 18:10
CZ.John 18:26 : John 18:1
DA.John 18:27 : John 13:38
DB.John 18:28 : Matt 27:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1
DC.John 18:28 : John 18:13
DD.John 18:28 : Matt 27:27; John 18:33; 19:9
DE.John 18:28 : Matt 27:27; John 18:33; 19:9
DF.John 18:28 : John 11:55; Acts 11:3
DG.John 18:29 : Matt 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:2, 3
DH.John 18:32 : Matt 20:19; 26:2; Mark 10:33; Luke 18:32; John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32
DI.John 18:33 : John 18:28, 29; 19:9
DJ.John 18:33 : Luke 23:3; John 19:12
DK.John 18:36 : Matt 26:53; Luke 17:21; John 6:15
DL.John 18:37 : Matt 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 22:70; 23:3
DM.John 18:37 : John 1:14; 3:32; 8:14
DN.John 18:37 : John 8:47; 1 John 4:6
DO.John 18:38 : John 18:33; 19:4
DP.John 18:38 : Luke 23:4; John 19:4, 6
DQ.John 18:39 : Matt 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:18-25
DR.John 18:40 : Acts 3:14

Tuesday Passion Week Reading

John 15-16 (New American Standard Bible)

John 15
Jesus Is the Vine--Followers Are Branches
1"(A)I am the true vine, and My Father is the (B)vinedresser.
2"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

3"(C)You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4"(D)Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

5"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he (E)bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

6"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is (F)thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

7"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, (G)ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8"My (H)Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so (I)prove to be My disciples.

9"Just as (J)the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

10"(K)If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as (L)I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

11"(M)These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your (N)joy may be made full.

Disciples' Relation to Each Other
12"This is (O)My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13"(P)Greater love has no one than this, that one (Q)lay down his life for his friends.

14"You are My (R)friends if (S)you do what I command you.

15"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for (T)all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16"(U)You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and (V)bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that (W)whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

17"This (X)I command you, that you love one another.

Disciples' Relation to the World
18"(Y)If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but (Z)I chose you out of the world, (AA)because of this the world hates you.

20"Remember the word that I said to you, '(AB)A slave is not greater than his master ' If they persecuted Me, (AC)they will also persecute you; if they (AD)kept My word, they will keep yours also.

21"But all these things they will do to you (AE)for My name's sake, (AF)because they do not know the One who sent Me.

22"(AG)If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23"He who hates Me hates My Father also.

24"(AH)If I had not done among them (AI)the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.

25"But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their (AJ)Law, '(AK)THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'

26"When the (AL)Helper comes, (AM)whom I will send to you from the Father, that is (AN)the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, (AO)He will testify about Me,

27and (AP)you will testify also, because you have been with Me (AQ)from the beginning.

John 16
Jesus' Warning
1"(AR)These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from (AS)stumbling.
2"They will (AT)make you outcasts from the synagogue, but (AU)an hour is coming for everyone (AV)who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.

3"These things they will do (AW)because they have not known the Father or Me.

4"But these things I have spoken to you, (AX)so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them These things I did not say to you (AY)at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Holy Spirit Promised
5"But now (AZ)I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, '(BA)Where are You going?'
6"But because I have said these things to you, (BB)sorrow has filled your heart.

7"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the (BC)Helper will not come to you; but if I go, (BD)I will send Him to you.

8"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

9concerning sin, (BE)because they do not believe in Me;

10and concerning (BF)righteousness, because (BG)I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;

11(BH)and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

13"But when He, (BI)the Spirit of truth, comes, He will (BJ)guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

14"He will (BK)glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

15"(BL)All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Jesus' Death and Resurrection Foretold
16"(BM)A little while, and (BN)you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and (BO)you will see Me."
17Some of His disciples then said to one another, "What is this thing He is telling us, '(BP)A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because (BQ)I go to the Father'?"

18So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."

19(BR)Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, "Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'?

20"Truly, truly, I say to you, that (BS)you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but (BT)your grief will be turned into joy.

21"(BU)Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

22"Therefore (BV)you too have grief now; but (BW)I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises
23"(BX)In that day (BY)you will not question Me about anything Truly, truly, I say to you, (BZ)if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.
24"(CA)Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your (CB)joy may be made full.

25"These things I have spoken to you in (CC)figurative language; (CD)an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.

26"(CE)In that day (CF)you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf;

27for (CG)the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and (CH)have believed that (CI)I came forth from the Father.

28"(CJ)I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and (CK)going to the Father."

29His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using (CL)a figure of speech.

30"Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we (CM)believe that You (CN)came from God."

31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?

32"Behold, (CO)an hour is coming, and has already come, for (CP)you to be scattered, each to (CQ)his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet (CR)I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

33"These things I have spoken to you, so that (CS)in Me you may have peace (CT)In the world you have tribulation, but (CU)take courage; (CV)I have overcome the world."


Footnotes:
a.John 15:2 Lit cleans; used to describe pruning
Cross references:
A.John 15:1 : Ps 80:8-ff; Is 5:1-ff; Ezek 19:10-ff; Matt 21:33-ff
B.John 15:1 : Matt 15:13; Rom 11:17; 1 Cor 3:9
C.John 15:3 : John 13:10; 17:17; Eph 5:26
D.John 15:4 : John 6:56; 15:4-7; 1 John 2:6
E.John 15:5 : John 15:16
F.John 15:6 : John 15:2
G.John 15:7 : Matt 7:7; John 15:16
H.John 15:8 : Matt 5:16
I.John 15:8 : John 8:31
J.John 15:9 : John 3:35; 17:23, 24, 26
K.John 15:10 : John 14:15
L.John 15:10 : John 8:29
M.John 15:11 : John 17:13
N.John 15:11 : John 3:29
O.John 15:12 : John 13:34; 15:17; 1 John 3:23; 2 John 5
P.John 15:13 : Rom 5:7
Q.John 15:13 : John 10:11
R.John 15:14 : Luke 12:4
S.John 15:14 : Matt 12:50
T.John 15:15 : John 8:26; 16:12
U.John 15:16 : John 6:70; 13:18; 15:19
V.John 15:16 : John 15:5
W.John 15:16 : John 14:13; 15:7; 16:23
X.John 15:17 : John 15:12
Y.John 15:18 : John 7:7; 1 John 3:13
Z.John 15:19 : John 15:16
AA.John 15:19 : Matt 10:22; 24:9; John 17:14
AB.John 15:20 : Matt 10:24; John 13:16
AC.John 15:20 : 1 Cor 4:12; 2 Cor 4:9; 2 Tim 3:12
AD.John 15:20 : John 8:51
AE.John 15:21 : Matt 10:22; 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:12, 17; Acts 4:17; 5:41; 9:14; 26:9; 1 Pet 4:14; Rev 2:3
AF.John 15:21 : John 8:19, 55; 16:3; 17:25; Acts 3:17; 1 John 3:1
AG.John 15:22 : John 9:41; 15:24
AH.John 15:24 : John 9:41; 15:21
AI.John 15:24 : John 5:36; 10:37
AJ.John 15:25 : John 10:34
AK.John 15:25 : Ps 35:19; 69:4
AL.John 15:26 : John 14:16
AM.John 15:26 : John 14:26
AN.John 15:26 : John 14:17
AO.John 15:26 : 1 John 5:7
AP.John 15:27 : Luke 24:48; John 19:35; 21:24; 1 John 1:2; 4:14
AQ.John 15:27 : Luke 1:2
AR.John 16:1 : John 15:18-27
AS.John 16:1 : Matt 11:6
AT.John 16:2 : John 9:22
AU.John 16:2 : John 4:21; 16:25
AV.John 16:2 : Is 66:5; Acts 26:9-11; Rev 6:9
AW.John 16:3 : John 8:19, 55; 15:21; 17:25; Acts 3:17; 1 John 3:1
AX.John 16:4 : John 13:19
AY.John 16:4 : Luke 1:2
AZ.John 16:5 : John 7:33; 16:10, 17, 28
BA.John 16:5 : John 13:36; 14:5
BB.John 16:6 : John 14:1; 16:22
BC.John 16:7 : John 14:16
BD.John 16:7 : John 14:26
BE.John 16:9 : John 15:22, 24
BF.John 16:10 : Acts 3:14; 7:52; 17:31; 1 Pet 3:18
BG.John 16:10 : John 16:5
BH.John 16:11 : John 12:31
BI.John 16:13 : John 14:17
BJ.John 16:13 : John 14:26
BK.John 16:14 : John 7:39
BL.John 16:15 : John 17:10
BM.John 16:16 : John 7:33
BN.John 16:16 : John 14:18-24; 16:16-24
BO.John 16:16 : John 16:22
BP.John 16:17 : John 16:16
BQ.John 16:17 : John 16:5
BR.John 16:19 : Mark 9:32; John 6:61
BS.John 16:20 : Mark 16:10; Luke 23:27
BT.John 16:20 : John 20:20
BU.John 16:21 : Is 13:8; 21:3; 26:17; 66:7; Hos 13:13; Mic 4:9; 1 Thess 5:3
BV.John 16:22 : John 16:6
BW.John 16:22 : John 16:16
BX.John 16:23 : John 14:20; 16:26
BY.John 16:23 : John 16:19, 30
BZ.John 16:23 : John 15:16
CA.John 16:24 : John 14:14
CB.John 16:24 : John 3:29; 15:11
CC.John 16:25 : Matt 13:34; John 10:6; 16:29
CD.John 16:25 : John 16:2
CE.John 16:26 : John 14:20; 16:23
CF.John 16:26 : John 16:19, 30
CG.John 16:27 : John 14:21, 23
CH.John 16:27 : John 2:11; 16:30
CI.John 16:27 : John 8:42
CJ.John 16:28 : John 8:42; 16:30
CK.John 16:28 : John 13:1, 3; 16:5, 10, 17
CL.John 16:29 : Matt 13:34; John 10:6; 16:25
CM.John 16:30 : John 2:11; 16:27
CN.John 16:30 : John 8:42; 16:28
CO.John 16:32 : John 4:23; 16:2, 25
CP.John 16:32 : Zech 13:7; Matt 26:31
CQ.John 16:32 : John 19:27
CR.John 16:32 : John 8:29
CS.John 16:33 : John 14:27
CT.John 16:33 : John 15:18-ff
CU.John 16:33 : Matt 9:2
CV.John 16:33 : Rom 8:37; 2 Cor 2:14; 4:7-ff; 6:4-ff; Rev 3:21; 12:11