A challenge for this week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

[OnceWasLost]

I love this week between the Triumphal Entry and The Resurrection because of all it teaches. Have you ever asked yourself what would I do if I knew I only had a week to live? Do you have a bucket list? Things you would never imagine if you knew you had years to live?

If you haven't done this before, try this out this week and see what you take from it. I suggest all 4 Gospels, but John will be fine if you only have limited time. Begin at the Triumphal Entry (in John start at Chapter 12 and that will cover it) and read through the rest of the book, because it is the last week of His Life. Imagine that, if you never noticed, almost half of John is dedicated to the events of His last week. The majority of that to the final hours and His post resurrection appearance.

Some of the most memorable passages in Scripture are found in those chapters. I hope all reading this take the time to read His Word and see the events that took place in those days.

I am reminded of the singularity of His focus and determination to secure salvation to those willing to receive. He is indeed Great and greatly to be praised!

Though not from John, I love how Mark deals with an episode leading to the ascent to Jerusalem for passover.

Mark 10

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

It was not uncommon for Him to walk ahead of them, but there apparently was something different about this particular walk toward Jerusalem, and they appear to have known something was up. I also love that Jesus did not rebuke them for forgetting what already been told to them, but rather He reminds them yet again what was coming, and with graphic specifics.

Before Mark 10 is complete we get this breathtaking quote, as James and John squabble about prominent position . v45. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Lord Jesus, how I rejoice that You have paid for my broken soul, and ransomed me from the wages my sin!

Back to John, I love this passage as much as about any, because it tells me God has given us all we need to be reconciled to Him

John 20

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Reason to rejoice my brothers and sisters!

Here we are middle of the week.

Historically:

We have seen Jesus presented as The Spotless Lamb last Sunday.
We will see Him offered this Friday, as The Once and for All Sacrifice.
We will celebrate this Sunday His power over death, thus having the power to offer eternal life to those who call upon His name.

God, you are so good to us, and we know we are greatly beloved! (Romans 5:8)

[SonSeeker]

Thanks OWL!

John 12 through to the end of the book. I'm on it!

[OnceWasLost]

Thanks OWL!

John 12 through to the end of the book. I'm on it!

Awesome!!!

Check back in and let me know what you see.

[Meg]

Historically:

We have seen Jesus presented as The Spotless Lamb last Sunday.
We will see Him offered this Friday, as The Once and for All Sacrifice.
We will celebrate this Sunday His power over death, thus having the power to offer eternal life to those who call upon His name.

God, you are so good to us, and we know we are greatly beloved! (Romans 5:8)

Amen

[mattfivefour]

Awesome thread, bro! Thank you. I shall follow your exhortation to read the gospel accounts again this week, particularly John's.

[OnceWasLost]

Awesome thread, bro! Thank you. I shall follow your exhortation to read the gospel accounts again this week, particularly John's.

Excellent!

Prepare to be edified.

[Kathy_57]

Thank you for this challenge which is not really a challenge at all ~ I will certainly be reading the book of John again and hopefully the other gospels.

[SonSeeker]

Awesome!!!

Check back in and let me know what you see.

I will. Am taking notes, and will be back soon with a full report.

[Patiently...]

Mark 10

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

I have often wondered why when Jesus speaks of himself he sometimes says "Him" instead of "me" ?

[anath]

I'm beginning John 12 tonight.

[mattfivefour]

Mark 10

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

I have often wondered why when Jesus speaks of himself he sometimes says "Him" instead of "me" ?

Perhaps it was to turn the attention from Himself as the man they knew to Himself as the Messiah of God. He wasn't focusing their attention on himself and what would happen to him but on the Father's plan for Messiah. As Jewish men His disciples were raised to know their Tanach (Bible), so by using the Messianic Term from Ezekiel —"Son of Man"— He was drawing their attention to the Scriptures and the prophecies rather than having his followers consumed with the thought of his human suffering. In other words he wanted them focused on His ministry not his humanity.

[OnceWasLost]

As I am going through John's Gospel, I had to stop and put on here the passages that were particularly impactful.

Please feel free to do the same.

John Ch 12:9-11

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Incredible! Rather than come to Jesus, as many did, they would rather cover up the evidence. Man's heart is so wicked and self centered.

Then there is this, simply breathtaking!

John 12:23-27

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

Does anyone struggle with the fact God loves them? Time to lose that doubt!

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

[Patiently...]

Perhaps it was to turn the attention from Himself as the man they knew to Himself as the Messiah of God. He wasn't focusing their attention on himself and what would happen to him but on the Father's plan for Messiah. As Jewish men His disciples were raised to know their Tanach (Bible), so by using the Messianic Term from Ezekiel —"Son of Man"— He was drawing their attention to the Scriptures and the prophecies rather than having his followers consumed with the thought of his human suffering. In other words he wanted them focused on His ministry not his humanity.

Thank you. That makes perfect sense.

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

That is nothing less than awesome.

[GlennO]

OWL -

Thanks for the charging me with the task! Great focus the upon the most important gift at this most significant time!

[GlennO]

OWL -

Your challenge lead me into a keen sense of walking with the disciples and their perspective. I guess my best example is John 16:18-22.

Joh 16:15-22
(15) All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me.'
(16) "In a little while you won't see Me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see Me again."
(17) Some of the disciples asked each other, "What does He mean when He says, 'In a little while you won't see Me, but then you will see Me,' and 'I am going to the Father'?
(18) And what does He mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand."
(19) Jesus realized they wanted to ask Him about it, so He said, "Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won't see Me, but a little while after that you will see Me again.
(20) I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.
(21) It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.
(22) So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

The disciples internal conversation in verses 17 and 18 put me right there in the moment. I can not remember experienced reading scripture in that in 3D fashion before.



THANKS!

[OnceWasLost]

OWL -

Your challenge lead me into a keen sense of walking with the disciples and their perspective. I guess my best example is John 16:18-22.

Joh 16:15-22
(15) All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me.'
(16) "In a little while you won't see Me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see Me again."
(17) Some of the disciples asked each other, "What does He mean when He says, 'In a little while you won't see Me, but then you will see Me,' and 'I am going to the Father'?
(18) And what does He mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand."
(19) Jesus realized they wanted to ask Him about it, so He said, "Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won't see Me, but a little while after that you will see Me again.
(20) I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.
(21) It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.
(22) So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

The disciples internal conversation in verses 17 and 18 put me right there in the moment. I can not remember experienced reading scripture in that in 3D fashion before.



THANKS!

Glenn, that is such a cool thing to read, the challenge has been to me such a blessing. Things leap out when you consider the time they took place.

Have a blessed Resurrection Day my brother.

[SonSeeker]

It's interesting Glenn was struck by John 16:18-22, and I was struck by the next few verses, John 16:23-27.

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Believers can now approach God directly because Jesus has made us acceptable to God.

[SonSeeker]

John 19:30
30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus demonstrated His Deity by voluntarily giving up His spirit.

[IamPJ]

Thanks guys! I so enjoyed reading your posts! Thank you for sharing!!!

[makememeek]

Question: How many of you call it easter Sunday?
(Easter is derived from the pagan name for the goddess, Ishtar;
an idol made of metal, stone, wood to resemble a woman holding a baby: sound familiar?)

How many of you call it 'RESURRECTION SUNDAY"?