Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
 
AMID the crowd watching this painful procession was Simon from Cyrene, a portion of today’s Libya where there was a Jewish community. Likely he was a Jew come to the Passover. Then his life changed. Abruptly a Roman soldier pointed to Simon, “Carry that cross for this criminal.” He had no freedom to say, “No.” Disobedience meant imprisonment or death.
    Into Simon’s hands, onto his back Simon carried the cross to ease Jesus’ suffering and demonstrate discipleship: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) and “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15) Simon literally took up Jesus’ cross to serve as a slave to his Lord’s cause. The soldier forced Simon to do what God gives us a choice to do.
    Or does he? Can a real disciple really choose whether to pick up the cross and to serve? As Simon experienced, our Lord’s way is to often suddenly thrust disciples into cross-carrying, servant circumstances. You’ve been there haven’t you? You may have had to pick up a friend’s cross to listen to his broken heart. Perhaps you suddenly heard the call to serve love and affirmation to lonely children in a local school. You will find it necessary to pick up the burden of the gospel to serve family and friends who consistently mock your Lord. Your church may need you for a meal ministry or a Bible study leader. Your cross may be to sacrificially give to a neighbor for food and shelter. Yes, discipleship takes on many cross-carrying, servant forms. Remember Jesus didn’t say, “If anyone would be my disciple, he can decide what he wants to do.”
    The Holy Spirit brought Simon from a long distance to serve the Son. If you are Jesus’ true disciple, the Holy Spirit has brought you a long way, too. He has picked up your soul to carry you from sin’s death into a faithful, eternal life in Jesus. Go and do as the Lord has done for you.  
    One more thing: Apparently, Simon’s discipleship journey continued from that day. Read Mark’s account of this event: Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. How would Mark know Simon’s sons? Most likely Alexander and Rufus were early missionaries in Jesus’ church. These two sons spiritually followed their father’s cross-carrying discipleship pathway. Simon’s ministry to the Lord that day opened the way for his family’s ministry to the Lord’s church.
    True disciples make a true, lasting difference, even in their own families.
 
Prayer: Make me faithful to you, Jesus, so I may be a true disciple, to even take up my cross and serve for you. Amen.   

Lke 23:13-25 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 17 Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner. 18 With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
 
THE Roman governor Pilate seems to have the last word as he says, “I will punish him (Jesus) and then release him.” But then we see the mob change his mind. Loud voices, even crying out, “Crucify him!” too often have the last say.
    Why do we so quickly jump off the leadership stand onto a sinking “please the public” swamp? Is our ruling authority gradually eroded by the culture’s cry, “We will tell you what is right?” If we allow such language to lead us, “That is right. This is wrong.” becomes, “I don’t want any trouble. Let’s just keep the peace.”    
    We must remember, though, there is no peace when right becomes wrong at a whim. Opinion-based leadership is really Crowd Controlled Censorship. Chaos reigns when leaders let public opinion and popularity polls form their policies and control their judgment. The rule of law is translated into the rule of man’s pleasure.
    After all, pleasure’s motive is sin’s origin in the Garden of Eden. The fruit “was pleasing to the eye.” (Genesis 3:6) Pleasure, too, is Israel’s sin in the godless days of the judges: Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit (pleased).  Pleasure is David’s whim to sin with Bathsheba. We have seen Herod’s lustful pleasure demean Jesus, and here Pilate’s pleasure is to please the crowd. The list, of course, continues to this very day when we seem to awaken with a new definition of law and disorder. Look to history and see how often wars began with a country’s or ruler’s pleasure as his motive.
    True leadership is very, very difficult. Far too many loud voices shout their own pleasure. A right-standing, firm leader must seek God’s counsel, learn what is right and steadfastly pursue the right against all opposition. Do we have such leaders available today? Who is courageous to stand for truth? Who desires to please the Lord above all?
 
Prayer: Lord, raise up righteous leaders who are courageous to lead us in your true pleasure. Amen.     

Luke 23:8-12 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.
 
JESUS stood silent amid evil. What would he say? Would Herod care? No, Herod had already killed John the Baptist, who spoke God’s judgment. His evil was bound in sensual immorality. He attempted to bring Jesus down into a gross form of sensual pleasure. Yes, evil has its day against the Son of God.
    But one day the Lamb’s judgment will loudly pour from heaven. Massive destruction will end mankind’s mocking manipulation of the Lord God. See this remarkable vision the Lord gave to the apostle John in Revelation 8:1-2, 5 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets…5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. How loud God’s judgment will be throughout the universe!
    Read through Revelation 7-8. Hear how only Jesus, the Lamb, was worthy to open the seventh seal. Imagine hearing the uncountable multitudes worship God the Father and the Lamb. Fully receive the eternal promise: Revelation 7:17 “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
    The heinous Herod and his loathsome court will one day face the terrors of the Lamb’s holy judgment. Herod and Pilate became friends for eternity in torment.
    Horrific is the sinner’s destination. When we watch the world daily manipulate God into its sensual pleasures, we must believe the Day of the Lord will come. Be silent to refrain from gossip and judgment. Sound God’s gospel grace with love, mercy, kindness, gentleness and forgiveness.
    Pray for God’s mercy on their souls, so they will be counted among the uncountable multitudes in heaven.  
     
Prayer: I pray my tongue is silent in judgment, loosened in the gospel, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Luke 23:3-7 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
 
PILATE is an unwilling participant in this unholy act. He is also a coward. Consider the man has complete control of Jerusalem. At his word, a man can be crucified, and a man can be set free. His word commands legions of highly trained soldiers who will professionally and violently defend Rome’s position in Judea.
    But Pilate acts as if he is equal, even less than Jesus’ accusers. His quick question to Jesus causes him to say, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” One question is enough. He wants to free Jesus and be free of this responsibility. Yet, he listens to the Jews. Instead of holding firm to his decision, he passes Jesus on to Herod.
    Pilate is as weak as the teachers and priests. The Jewish authorities wanted to pass on Jesus to the Roman authority. Now he passed Jesus on to Herod, Galilee’s authority. It seems no one wants to be bold and say, “Condemn this man.” Why?
    The apostle Paul wrote something that can be the reason why. Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 
    These wicked men know they are wicked. Their conscience is disturbing them. The Lord stands in their presence, silent to their sin; yet, he speaks loudly and clearly into their souls. The authorities are right to hesitate to use their earthly authority to judge the heavenly Judge.      It is no wonder they want to pass of Jesus to someone else. Their souls are at risk, and they know it.
    We often do the same, don’t we? Asking God, “Are you my Lord, then?” we become uncomfortable when he says, “Yes, it is as you say.” We judge that God’s will and purpose doesn’t fit our understanding. Ill at ease in the presence of Holiness, we judge God to be “out of touch”, “irrelevant”, or “the guy upstairs”. The more we judge him to be on our level, the less we fear his judgment.
    If you see yourself anywhere in there, remember who is the King: Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
 
Prayer: May I never judge you, Lord God, King of glory. Amen.

Luke 23:1-2 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.”
 
READ again Luke 22:66-71. Mark where you see Jesus saying, “I am a king. I am the Christ.” Oh, you can’t find it? Look then in Luke or the other gospels to find where Jesus said, “Don’t pay taxes to Caesar.” Again, the Scriptures do not reveal such words from our Lord. In fact, he said in Matthew 22:21b “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” How tragic when we lie to condemn the Lord.
    Their lies are even more tragic when you consider the priests and teachers of the law were responsible to keep God’s Word sacred and holy among his people. Historical evidence shows many ways the Jews’ religious structure successfully protected the worship of God’s people from Gentile idolatry. They diligently upheld God’s commands against the pagan intrusions into Judea.
    Why then, do these men break the law, even act as the pagans, to condemn Jesus? Have they forgotten that three times God’s law declares: 1) Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  2) Deuteronomy 5:20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  3) And see both the command and the penalty when breaking the command: Deuteronomy 19:18-19 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. In God’s law, the teachers and priests should have been crucified!
    Surely these men are aware of these laws. It was their life’s work to know it, memorize it, study it and teach it. What possible motive could they have to put their own souls at risk? What moved the Jewish authorities to lie to the Roman governor in order to condemn Jesus against Rome’s laws?
    How desperate we are to hold fast to our traditions, beliefs and power. Let’s, instead, humbly and joyfully see God holding fast to our lives. He has brought us into the world and lovingly called us to himself. Submit to his reign. Speak and live his Word. He knows all you think and say. One day he will hold you to account for your life.
    Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
 
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for your true law to reveal our sin. Thank you for Jesus, who paid the horrible price for our sin. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who strengthens our thoughts and mouths to believe and speak in truth. Amen. 
 

Luke 22:63-65 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
 
ONE reason conflict rages within the human race is self-righteousness. We are eager to hold fast to our beliefs. Anyone who acts outside of our approval seems to suddenly become an “enemy”. Our tendency too often is to condemn, criticize and even actively seek to silence people with whom we disagree. Is there a better way?
    Perhaps we can find a better way as we examine our view of the mocking guards. How dare they mock the Lord! Easily we see these soldiers outside of our beliefs. We would never mock the Lord, especially when we would have witnessed his miraculous power.
    Or would we? Do we? I know I am too often prone to mock God’s faithfulness. Today I proclaim his miracles. But what happens tomorrow? What do I say when he is silent to my pleas? Am I so quick to forget the miracles he has delivered to me throughout my life – especially the miracle of salvation? Does my mind forget why he stood in silence that dark morning? When the Lord is silent, do I mock him with impatience and unbelief for what he’s not doing? Or is my heart willing to trust even, “Wait.” and “No.” from the Lord?
    Yes, we can look at the guards through self-righteous eyes. “What’s wrong with them? Couldn’t they see Jesus’ power? Why are they so cruel to mock him? I hope they get what they deserve.” Or we can stop to first look at our own lives through God’s righteous eyes. What does he see in us?
    Remember Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:4-5 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Our Lord sees us as sinners in need of him. How different our world would be if we agreed with him.
    Yes, we must correct and condemn sin. Clearly the guards sinned against Jesus. But let’s more quickly examine our own lives in light of Jesus’ life-transforming teachings and his soul-transforming suffering. Do not self-righteously dwell on, “I am right.” “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33a) Perhaps you will discover some way you are mocking your Lord. Or maybe you will see how you mock others.  
    Self-righteousness breeds contempt and division. We must be careful how we think, understanding we have much to learn. The guards were sinners in need of repentance. Their souls were in danger of eternal destruction. We see people everyday who need Jesus as much as they did, even when we look in the mirror.
   
Prayer: Lord God, open my mind to understand my need for your righteousness. Help me to put away self-thinking, so I will love you and love my neighbors – even my enemies. Amen.

Luke 22:61-62 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”  62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
 
 WE have seen Peter’s emphatic denials of his Lord. Now we see his emphatic sorrow. Seeing his Lord face-to-face, he remembered all Jesus had said. He heard in his mind his emphatic assurance, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) Then he heard his words, “Woman I don’t know him.”
    Now Peter is face-to-face with his sin. And what can he do but bitterly weep? He loves Jesus. He is willing to even suffer and die for his Lord. But for a few moments, fear rose up and transformed the emphatic disciple into a shamed sinner.
    Emphatic denial is the reason for many sins, isn’t it? Think what happens when a spouse denies the other, a parent denies a child, a worker denies a boss, a church member denies his vows, a motorist denies the rules or we disciple deny Jesus. The list is long. It is troubled with broken promises and sudden reactions. We act to preserve our desires while denying another’s needs. Our allegiances become shallow when trouble threatens our comfort.
    To be Jesus’ disciple commands an unwavering allegiance to the Lord. Disciples are emphatic to hold fast to each command Jesus has so passionately delivered to our hearts. Such passion in return is necessary to be effectively emphatic for our Lord and his people on earth.
    Listen closely to the apostle Paul emphasize faith’s power: Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
    This is the victory of being one with our Lord. In his emphatic shame, Peter was for a moment, separated from Jesus. But Jesus did not stop loving him. Peter did not stop loving Jesus. Purposefully, Jesus had called Simon and named him Peter. Emphatically, Jesus had given Peter and his disciples the gospel of salvation. Peter was about to personally learn how emphatic Jesus’ truth is for his own life and for the world.
    I pray you know, this, too. Are you shamed with sin? It’s easy to be if you dwell on it. But emphatically focus on the gospel. Know Jesus loves you. Be willing to show him your love. Go to him and look into his loving face. He has conquered the cross, so you can emphatically conquer sin.
 
Prayer: Father in heaven, you have demonstrated your great love for me. While I was still a sinner, you sent your Son to die for me. Thank you for your emphatic grace. I pray you forgive me of my shame and I receive your renewing, resurrection love. Amen.  

Luke 22:54-60 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
 
JESUS has specifically prophesied this. “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” But Peter denied the Lord’s prophecy: “But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mark 14:30) Even emphatic human emotions are inadequate to withstand the Lord’s purpose.
    Do you cringe at Peter’s insistent denials? He emphatically declares: “Woman, I don’t know him. Man, I am not! Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The emphatic, “I’ll never deny you.” disciple became equally forceful to deny his relationship with Jesus. Satan was, indeed, vigorously sifting to turn Peter’s faith into chaff.
    Be aware of evil’s emphatic attacks on your faith. The devil and his demons are relentless to turn our gifts into guilt. Each of us in the church have likely heard some affirmation of a gift to glorify God. When we faithfully respond to such encouragements, something may occur to frustrate or hurt us. We make a mistake and are embarrassed. Perfection is desired and expected but never reached. Evil emphatically points an accusing finger to say, “You have failed!”
    Yes, we see sin’s emphatic hold on Peter for that moment. Too often, it has the same hold on our spiritual lives for years. We live afraid of what we might do wrong, when we should focus on what we can do right. Our eyes dimly see God while sharply focusing on our faults. We forget “God has given me this gift. God will guide me to glorify him. If I error, even sin in the gift, he will pick me up to take me forward. This is not about me. This is about my God.”
    Fear, complacency and distractions of all sorts can cause us to emphatically deny Jesus. But know this: emphatic Peter denied; yet, Jesus passionately forgave and anointed him (John 21) to be an unrelenting apostle.
    God will do the same for you. If for some reason you feel, “I’ve failed. I’ve emphatically denied Jesus too many times. I don’t measure up.” Then measure, instead, the Lord’s emphatic grace, power and love for you. Believe in his strength. Live for him. Live with him. Live in him. You will emphatically demonstrate to the world how great is the Father’s love that he would call you, “My child.”
 
Prayer: Forgive me, Father, for emphatically denying your gifts. I pray for faith and healing to move my mind, heart and body more humbly to serve you. Amen.
 

Luke 22:52-53 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour –  when darkness reigns.”
 
ONE overwhelming image throughout Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion is darkness. Darkness is often given as a representation of evil. Sin seems to perpetuate in the darkness. We lock our doors at night. We keep the light on to turn away those who intend to rob or harm us. Usually we are shocked when a crime occurs in broad daylight.
    Darkness covers sinful hearts as they arrest Jesus. The temple authorities had dared not arrest Jesus in day’s revealing light. Be reminded of Luke 20:19 “The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.” They would not have had such fear of the people if they had a right cause to silence the Lord. But darkness never has a just reason to silence the Light. So they moved in the night.
    Think, too, how Jesus viewed the guards’ swords and clubs. How useless they were against the humble servant prepared to surrender his human life to the Father’s will. Consider how powerless such weapons are against God’s all-consuming power. Dark forces demonstrate their weapons to strike fear in our hearts. That is why we must rise in faith as we always remember God’s eternal power. Trust his promise of your eternal life. Be strengthened against sin’s darkness when you live into Jesus’ light:
    1 Corinthians 15:55-58 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 
    Jesus shows us throughout the horrible suffering of his arrest and death that death truly has no victory for those who are in Christ.
    Is there any way you submit to darkness? Do you hide something in your soul that allows evil some victory over your life? Turn, then, to the light of salvation. Confess your sins to the conquering Savior. Live now and forever into his freedom-giving light.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for conquering the darkness of my soul. I pray for faith to step surely into the light to be more completely with you. Amen.
 
 
 

Luke 22:49-51 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
 
ONE of Jesus’ most difficult teachings is recorded twice in Luke and once in Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  I have remarked in other lessons how this would be an extremely difficult command for the Jews. Our cultural differences today are minimal contrasted to their oppression. We must remember the gross atrocities the Jews’ suffered under centuries of foreign rule. Enemies within their nation, too, created economic and political imprisonment. How is it possible to love and pray for such enemies?
    Jesus shows us how. The disciples reacted to Jesus’ arrest as had many other disciples of rabbis and zealots who sought to overthrow Rome. The violence in these many rebellions invariably led to violent death. Jesus, though, would not have his disciples killed in their misguided passion. He needed love to be their passion because love is the only weapon to defeat the great enemy Satan.
    At that moment in the Garden, Jesus lived into his words. He does what he has preached. He obeys his own command. The Lord loves the wounded soldier. Jesus’ touch surely heals the man’s ear. Jesus love truly transforms the man’s heart into a new faith in the living Lord. Who knows how many this man proclaimed the miracle of that moment. That’s what godly love does – it heals and it multiplies. It glorifies God.
    As we conclude this study of the Passover night, let’s be mindful of what Luke has revealed to us. These hours of Jesus with his disciples is a summary of his three years’ ministry. Witness God’s way against the world’s way. The Lord has taught. He has served, encouraged, rebuked, healed and loved. The Messiah has warned of hardships ahead. He has prayed to protect his chosen leaders. As surely as God released his people, Israel, from slavery at the first Passover, he came again to release his chosen people, the church, from sin. The Lord has spoken. He calls us to obey.
    The Savior has shown much to us in the hours before his arrest. I pray we will listen and learn. His love for us is tender and protective. His call on our lives is urgent and purposeful. How are we to respond?
 
Prayer: Teach me, Spirit, of the Father’s great love, the Son’s urgent commands, your life-giving power. I pray for faith to love my enemies and to pray for them. Amen.