March 31st, 2021
Love Goes the Distance - Day 39 – Wednesday, March 31st – Lori Ennis
Read Mark 15:1–21 and focus on 15:6–15 below
Remember to Pause | Read | Reflect | Listen |Pray | Journal |Practice | Encourage/Share |Fast
During Passover, Pilate always freed one prisoner chosen by the people. And at that time there was a prisoner named Barabbas. He and some others had been arrested for murder during a riot. The crowd now came and asked Pilate to set a prisoner free, just as he usually did. Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?” Pilate knew that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. But the chief priests told the crowd to ask Pilate to free Barabbas.
Then Pilate asked the crowd, “What do you want me to do with this man you say is the king of the Jews?” They yelled, “Nail him to a cross!” Pilate asked, “But what crime has he done?” “Nail him to a cross!” they yelled even louder. Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
When I read this passage, I cannot do so without tears. I imagine the hatred and the venom Jesus suffered as He was tortured and tormented, mocked, and ridiculed and handed over to death even though Pilate himself knew He had committed no crime. That the King of the Universe would go through that horror for someone like me? I am always overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled that God loves even me so much.
That the crowd chose a KNOWN criminal over the One True God always shocks me, but then again, it does not. We live in a world full of Truth right in front of our faces every single day. Still, so many refuse to accept Him. They choose the world’s lies and temporary pleasures and desires over eternity with the Lord of Lords. This Easter, may we honestly think about what the cost of loving us so much was to Jesus. Consider Him as a human—like you and me—enduring that torment with no other purpose but to save us. What a Savior we have in Him!
Prayer Focus – Today, we will pray for all the pastors and worship leaders in our community who are preparing to share the power of the Cross and Resurrection with their congregations.
Read Mark 15:1–21 and focus on 15:6–15 below
Remember to Pause | Read | Reflect | Listen |Pray | Journal |Practice | Encourage/Share |Fast
During Passover, Pilate always freed one prisoner chosen by the people. And at that time there was a prisoner named Barabbas. He and some others had been arrested for murder during a riot. The crowd now came and asked Pilate to set a prisoner free, just as he usually did. Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?” Pilate knew that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. But the chief priests told the crowd to ask Pilate to free Barabbas.
Then Pilate asked the crowd, “What do you want me to do with this man you say is the king of the Jews?” They yelled, “Nail him to a cross!” Pilate asked, “But what crime has he done?” “Nail him to a cross!” they yelled even louder. Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
When I read this passage, I cannot do so without tears. I imagine the hatred and the venom Jesus suffered as He was tortured and tormented, mocked, and ridiculed and handed over to death even though Pilate himself knew He had committed no crime. That the King of the Universe would go through that horror for someone like me? I am always overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled that God loves even me so much.
That the crowd chose a KNOWN criminal over the One True God always shocks me, but then again, it does not. We live in a world full of Truth right in front of our faces every single day. Still, so many refuse to accept Him. They choose the world’s lies and temporary pleasures and desires over eternity with the Lord of Lords. This Easter, may we honestly think about what the cost of loving us so much was to Jesus. Consider Him as a human—like you and me—enduring that torment with no other purpose but to save us. What a Savior we have in Him!
Prayer Focus – Today, we will pray for all the pastors and worship leaders in our community who are preparing to share the power of the Cross and Resurrection with their congregations.
Posted in Love Goes the Distance
Recent
Archive
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
March
Jesus in His GloryNot QuantityHow Much God Loves ChildrenWhere Two or Three are GatheredLike Little ChildrenFocusAmazing GraceBeing Confronted By JesusKingdom FruitWedding AttireCome with a Hungry HeartLive and Lead Like HimTough LoveBe on your GuardKeep WatchTalentsSlow DownBeing Led by the SpiritKingdom WatchThey Are Us. We Are Them.Jesus Gave His All For UsHe is Risen, Indeed
April
The Most Important Question Ever AskedExchanging Death for a Better LifeThe Space BetweenHe's got the KeysI want to know HimJoy of the LordNeverthelessFullness of JoyFavorites"Try it, you'll like it."He Created MeHe Chose to Die for MeGod's Love for UsAn Eternal LoveNothing will SeparateThe Salt ShakerThe Word Brings HopeMeditate on God's WordA Well Lit PathEverything Wears OutEnjoy itModeration found in Contentment
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments