Read Matthew 21:20 thru 23, Luke 20:1-26, Mark 11:20 thru 12
 
Matthew 23:8-10 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.”
 
YOU might be thinking, “Shouldn’t I call my father, ‘Father’?” Or “I work as a teacher. Shouldn't my students call me ‘Teacher’?” What is Jesus telling us?
   In Jesus’ day and throughout history there, of course, have been many people who represent God with certain gifts such as prophets, pastors, elders and teachers. Unfortunately, some have seen themselves or to be seen by others as the ultimate authority of God’s Word – even above God. People stop looking to God the Father, Son and Spirit for God’s truth. They point to themselves or to particular teachers and leaders, ministers and priests as the one who carries all authority and understanding of God.
   This can happen in a godly person when pride replaces humility and works removes grace. Or these leaders reject appropriate teaching and correction from others. They believe all authority from heaven has been given only to them.
   The Pharisees were that way. They strived to turn peoples’ eyes to them, so they could have sure control over the Jews’ spiritual and even secular life. Jesus rejected this prideful and political approach to the ministry of God’s Word. He told the Pharisees that God is the Master, the Teacher and the authority of the law. Jesus taught the Pharisees to teach and uphold the law under his and the Father’s authority. Their purpose is to bring honor and glory to the Father in heaven, not to themselves.
          As you are a father, teacher, pastor and servant of God, always be aware that you have these kingdom roles in the King’s rule. Always consider how he has taught you. Then be grateful to teach others with humility and grace.  

Read John 12:12-36, Matthew 21:1-16, Mark 11:1-19, Luke 19:29-48
 
Matthew 21:1-5 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.’”
 
GOD'S prophets spoke many prophecies and many signs to help the Jews know the Messiah when they would see him. That's one of the reasons the Jews kept pressing Jesus for more signs. They had seen false teachers come to say, “I am the Messiah.” and the Jews had seen these men proven false.
   Now as the week of Passover began, Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the fulfillment of a sign given by the prophet Zechariah: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
   Yes, Jesus will come in the manner of the King proclaimed come to save. He comes to deliver himself into the hands of his enemies, to ultimately tell the Jews that their King has come in victory.
   The remarkable truth of Jesus’ victory is that it comes from his own chosen people murdering him in the city he had given to them! Jesus’ greatest sign would come out of his greatest humiliation and abuse.
 
The Triumphant Entry
 
Matthew 21:7-9 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
 
The Jews welcoming Jesus were another of many generations who had lived under severe political and religious oppression. Fear marked their lives. They longed for the promised Messiah to destroy their oppressors, to cast this great weight from their souls. When they called out to Jesus, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the LORD we bless you.” (Psalms 118:26) there was hope that the one who had offered life-changing healings and teachings would free Israel from all foreign rule!  
     But his purpose was for the world’s eternal freedom. Today we sing the Psalm of praise because Jesus came to bless our souls into life everlasting.   
 

Read Mark 10:10-52, 14:3-9, Matthew 19:3-30
 
Mark 10:42-45 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
 
JESUS’ great gift to you is his life as a ransom for your sins. That means he has paid with his life the price of your soul. He’s a servant-king. Are you, in response, a servant-follower?
   Servant following means you have opened your heart to first empty your own desires. Then you keep your heart’s door open to receive the Lord Jesus’ love. When you are filled in his love, servant-following is easy. How, then, does his love fill you?
   Think about the best relationship you have. Why is this relationship so good? Likely you’ve been through some things together. You have helped each other through some struggles. You have spent time sharing encouraging words and acts of kindness. Each of you have given up your own desires to please the other. What happens when the friend calls and says, “Come. I need help.” You go because you love your friend with a special grace and joy.
   The same thing happens when you love Jesus. When you spend time getting to know him through the Bible, speaking to him and listening to him, you will come to know his great love for you. You will then love him more deeply. In this way you become his eager servant-follower, joyful to know God so personally.
   This is Jesus’ desire for your life. Rejoice he has demonstrated his great love for you. Go to him and live in a joyful love with your Creator.
 
Mark 14:6-7 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.”
 
A woman pours out a jar of very expensive perfume over Jesus to honor him. It seems she is the only one who believes his prophecy of his crucifixion! Many accuse her of waste. But Jesus teaches her accusers two very important lessons. One lesson is this: Honor your Savior. We honor him when we spiritually sit at his feet in prayer, listen to his voice and anoint him with our worship. The perfume symbolizes a fragrant offering of complete devotion to our King. Devote yourself to him. Your worship is very precious to him.
   The second lesson: Take care of the poor. Jesus said that we will always have the poor with us. This does not mean he wants people to be poor. He is stating the reality of a broken world. I wonder, as people criticized the woman for wasting the perfume, did they then go and offer their possessions and work to help the poor? Did they give a tithe of their income to people in need?
   Let’s anoint our LORD God with our heart’s love. Let’s worship him in truth. Let’s spread the fragrance of his salvation to the world.
 
 
 

Read John 11
 
John 11:35-36 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”
 
SEE our Lord Jesus’ compassion. Can you imagine the Lord of Life standing in front of a grave? Yes, I’m sure he had done this before. Other friends had died. Apparently, his earthly father Joseph was dead when Jesus’ ministry began. In his humanity, the God of heaven would have known human grief.
   But why would the LORD of Life weep? After all, he knew that in a few minutes this grave would open, and his friend would walk out. Why the deep sorrow?
   To answer the “why’s” of God, it is essential to know who God is. We know God is love. We know God is life. We know God is resurrection. We know God is eternal.
   Because God so loved the world (John 3:16a) we can surely know Jesus wept not only for Lazarus’ death, but he mourned for all humanity. Surely our loving LORD God wept when evil entered the Garden of Eden! He wept because so very, very much had been lost at the moment death had broken into the world and begun its destruction. After all, the Living Word had spoken, and a formless void became a sparkling universe of exact proportion and extraordinary perfection. Death was not in God’s good creation. Jesus wept over death’s curse that separated mankind from the Holy God.
   Jesus, the Son of God, was acting into God’s salvation plan to destroy death. He would not just go to a grave and raise a dead man, he would go into a grave as a sacrifice, so he could rise to resurrect all dead souls. Once again, the Living Word would speak, and mankind could come into the life-giving wonder of a blessed, perfect relationship with our Holy God forever.
   Can you see God’s love through Jesus’ tears? Do you know Jesus’ passion for you? The cross is called “the Passion of Christ” because God’s deep love was the catalyst to send the Son to die, so you may live. Indeed, God’s Love Story is expressed in “Jesus Wept”.
   Praise Jesus he wept over death. Praise Jesus he has come in love to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.

Read Luke 13:22-16, 17:20-8:14, Matthew 20:1-16
 
Luke 13:34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
 
A wayward child who has rejected his parents’ instructions, a Christ-centered life and God’s loving care, is perhaps a Christian father’s and mother’s greatest grief. At a child’s birth, no parent says, “I hope my daughter grows up to be negligent and disobedient.” Our hope and expectation is we will love our children; they will love us; and each one in our family will love God. How sorrowful to look upon a resistant child and say, “I long to gather you to our household again.”
   Here is Jesus at the crest of his ministry. He has spoken his purpose repeatedly, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” (Mark 1:38) He longed for the Jews, the children of the LORD, to know, “The work I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me” to “save the world.” (Scriptures from Deuteronomy and John)
   The world is very different than God’s will for his children. At the birth of man and woman into the world, the Living Word declared to God’s newborn couple, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28) God gave his children a blessed purpose to minister heaven’s glory in the perfect home, the Garden of Eden!
   But even as God had blessed and instructed his children, he also created them with a mind to decide their own direction – even to go away from him. Their self-determined disobedience deeply grieved him. The Father passionately acted to restore his “family blessing” to mankind. He came to us through the law, the prophets and his incarnation to welcome the faithful men and women into his blessed household once again. With longing in his heart, the incarnate God spoke once more to the Jews, “And now, look, your house is abandoned.” There was no sign of God in Israel’s heart.
   The Jews continued to choose Satan’s curse. They missed God’s blessed love, even as he personally pursued them to come home. About 40 years after Jesus’ lament, the LORD God sent Rome to destroy Jerusalem, the city created to be God’s “house” on earth for his people.
   Are you in God’s house spiritually, dwelling in his blessing? Are you in God’s house physically each week to dwell with his people? Who is your Father? Does he dwell in your heart? Is he in heaven awaiting you?
 

Read Luke 9:51-56, 17:11-18, Luke 10-11, John 10:22-42
 
Luke 10:21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, LORD of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”
 
YOU may be wondering about Jesus’ joy. This doesn’t seem to be an emotion we connect with Jesus, do we? After all, the gospels focus on Jesus’ ministry to teach, preach and rebuke as he offers miraculous healings, exorcisms and feedings. Jesus confronted much turmoil as God’s own people repeatedly aligned Jesus with Satan and often picked up stones to kill him.
   Those who did seek his teachings often seemed to do so for self-gain. Many Jews eagerly approached Jesus to be physically healed while ignoring his power to heal them eternally. Only a few people seemed to get close to understanding Jesus’ true identity.
   His life was prophesied to be that way. Return to Isaiah 53, which summarizes the physical and spiritual horrors Jesus would endure. Take five minutes and read it. You will see such words as “He has no form or comeliness.” “He was despised, and we did not esteem him.” “But he was wounded for our transgressions…by his stripes we are healed.” And “The LORD has laid on him the sin of us all.” Furthermore, Jesus said discipleship means suffering, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Truly, this cross business is a life-and-death commitment! Living under the cross requires an active faith underscored with grit, determination and perseverance. Where is joy in that kind of life? How could the chastised, sorrowful Savior, about to be pierced on the cross, be filled with joy? 
   The answer comes in the entire account of Jesus sending the 72 in Luke 10:1-21. Joy filled Jesus that day because the short-term mission gave him the opportunity to witness the Spirit fulfill the Son’s own ministry mission statement: Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor.” (NIV)
   We have seen the results of the Holy Spirit empowering Jesus to minister. Now see how Jesus sent the 72 on their Spirit-empowered mission to remove sickness and demons – to proclaim freedom for the captives and to demonstrate the LORD’S favor upon his people. They did the same saving work Jesus had done!
   Yes, Jesus is the joyful Lord. Those 72 disciples – not even his closest 12 – had listened, learned and acted in faith. The Father has affirmed Jesus’ power will be transferred to those chosen to minister the gospel. The LORD’S favor will save more people.
   Jesus is joyful, too, because he is your Savior. He loves you, even willing to die, so you will be saved. His joy is in your salvation.
 

Read John 8:12-10:21
 
John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
 
IN the entire reading for today, Jesus declares seven times, “I am.” In addition to verse 12, he announced he is the Son of God and directed by God. He is the Son of Man, the eternal God, the good shepherd and the true gate.
   This scene in 8:12 is believed to be the day after the Feast of Shelters has ended. “I am the light of the world.” was a very appropriate ending. To fully understand the impact of Jesus’ self-declaration, we should know that light was a significant part of this festival. As God sheltered and tabernacled with his people during their 40-year journey in the desert, we remember he also led them with his protective, glorious pillar of fire by night. To commemorate this in the temple square, four 75-foot tall torches burned constantly during the Feast to illuminate the Temple, the city and the country. To remember God’s shekinah light that led the Jews to God, these and other torches shone the light across hillsides and valleys throughout Judea and Galilee.
   Light is the sign of creation to come. God’s good light illuminated God’s presence in the world to prepare for the world’s creation. In Exodus 3, God revealed himself to Moses through the burning bush. God also showed his glory to his people from Mt. Sinai as a consuming fire. God followed each light revelation with powerful creative acts. This would happen again when Jesus fulfilled his work.
   Light represents God’s creation, revelation, holiness, and salvation. Recall the vision of God’s throne in Ezekiel 1:4b an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal. Isaiah prophesied the Servant of the LORD would be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 49:6). And gloriously, God will be the light for his people in the Kingdom of God: Isaiah 60:19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. This promise is repeated in Revelation 22.
   Of course, the Jews would stubbornly resist Jesus’ revelation.
   Be eager to believe and to receive Jesus’ new life light today. The Light of the World wants to illuminate your heart, so you will truly see heaven’s light. A lighted heart is a loving heart. It will guide you to walk with joy and wonder as you remember the LORD God has led you into his eternal glory. 

Read John 7:2-8:11
 
John 7:2-6, 9-10 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime.” … 10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.
 
TWO things happen here to point to Jesus’ deity. First, he rejects his unbelieving brothers’ urgings to “be famous.” He was not a man seeking worldly glory. He is the Son of God responding to his Father’s purpose to glorify the Father. Jesus had become well-known in Galilee. Surely as he walked with the large crowds that went to the Festival of Shelters (also called Tabernacle, Booths or Harvest), some would have urged Jesus to Jerusalem’s throne. His brothers may have sought political fame for Jesus for their own motives. How good to be the brothers of the Messiah King! But such actions outside of the Father’s will would have ended Jesus’ ministry and purpose. The time for Jesus’ “fame” would be later at another Feast called the Passover. Jesus lingered as he waited for the Father’s directives for his next kingdom steps. In one way, you could say Jesus was again resisting the devil’s temptation to desire worldly rule.
   The second evidence of Jesus’ deity is his ministry at the Feast in the Father’s time. This Feast of Shelters was a twofold celebration of God’s presence with his people through the Wilderness Journey. The LORD God provided shelter for his people through grasses, leaves, branches and even some towns for 40 years. This celebration also remembered how God had come to tabernacle – dwell with – his people in the Tabernacle. God’s abundant care and unrelenting power sheltered the Jews from their enemies, physical discomfort, disease and starvation as they walked toward their ultimate shelter, the Promised Land. In addition, this Feast celebrated the harvest time for some crops. God’s tabernacle, shelter and harvest are the reasons for the Feast.
   Jesus, then, is the Feast incarnate. He came to dwell on earth with his people, so his power and presence would lead us to tabernacle with him in heaven. He protects his chosen from the Evil One and reaps a harvest of the righteous.
   It’s good to know, too, that Jesus’ brothers became part of the harvest. James (not the apostle James) became a leader in the early church and wrote the epistle James. Jude is the author of Jude. Let us continue to pray people of the world will come to be under Jesus’ shelter forever. Matthew 9:38 “So pray to the LORD who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
 
 

Read Mark 8:34 thru 9, Matthew 16:13 thru Matthew 18
 
Mark 9:1-3 Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” 2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
 
TO be “transfigured” means “to transform one’s appearance revealing great beauty and magnificence.” That’s what happened to Jesus that day. He became extraordinarily beautiful. Dazzling light and brightness overwhelmed Peter, James and John. They saw a glimpse of heaven and of Jesus’ heavenly existence. These young Hebrew men saw God’s holiness in a way similar to the great prophets Moses, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Elijah. They were in very special company! Why did Jesus stop to give these young disciples such a glorious view of himself on his way to the cross? Did he need them to be more committed to him?
   At first look, Jesus’ effort seems to have been wasted on these three. In the coming days, John and James would request their own kingdom glory, asking to sit at Jesus’ left and right hand in his reign. Peter would continue to push back against Jesus’ commitment to the cross. And, of course, there is Peter’s infamous three-fold denial of Jesus at his trial. How did Jesus’ glory impact these men? 
   Do you think that when Peter saw the resurrected Christ, he l looked back and added the transfiguration to the evidence of Jesus’ eternal existence? Surely Peter was able to more faithfully stand in confidence against the same men who sentenced Jesus to death. Peter healed. He resurrected the dead. He was the first apostle to the Gentiles. And Peter would testify of this event to strengthen the persecuted church: 2 Peter 1:16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
   Likewise, John could write with certainty the visions of Revelation, the truth of Jesus in 1-3 John and the deity of Jesus in John. James stood fearlessly for the church and surely approached his martyrdom with great assurance he was about to forever live in glory with his Lord.
   Pay attention to Jesus’ glory in your life. See him through his death, resurrection, love, truth and faith. Rejoice in the glory of your salvation. Live with joyful assurance you are joined now with Jesus’ glory forever in the house of the LORD.
 
 

 

Read Matthew 15:21-31, 16:1-12, Mark 7:24-8:26
 
Matthew 15:21-24 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word… 24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
 
JESUS is among Gentiles in Tyre and Sidon. The Lord’s world is the Lord’s pulpit. He will proclaim to the world he has come to set the captives free.
   But was that his plan here? A Canaanite woman was desperate for her daughter. Her plea, “Have mercy on me O Lord, Son of David!” is a believer’s cry to the Almighty God. She sought the One whose mercy healed all diseases. But then Jesus gave her no reply.
   How often have you wondered “Why the silence?” when you desperately needed Jesus’ mercy? What do we do?
   God’s inspired Word here and elsewhere teaches us to faithfully pursue God’s answer. There are times he quickly responded to pleas for healing. But to assume he will always do so is to believe our will is above God’s purpose.
   Only by his mercy has the LORD granted us Kingdom citizenship. He is our God if we faithfully obey his commands. As we pray and plead, we must be ready to wait and watch through God’s silence.
 
Jesus Answers
 
Matthew 15:26-28 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master’s table.” 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
 
JESUS heard. He waited. He answered. We can assume he spoke with gentleness and encouragement as he often does when people faithfully come to him. The Holy Spirit will speak through a friend, his Word or a circumstance.
   Jesus is teaching. He used the woman’s persistence and prayer to remind all of the order of God's holy plan of salvation. First the Jew and then the Gentiles will receive his grace. His silence was also a means to draw the woman’s faith into confession. He wants us to know he is listening as we are pursuing him.
   The woman had a great need. So she did pursue him because she believed only a little of Jesus’ power was necessary to cure her daughter. Crumbs are small. They can still taste very good.
    Are you desperate for someone’s wellness – even your own? Pursue God with a relentless faith. Know he is listening for your faith. Then believe his answer will be for your good and his glory.