Category: Inspiration

Reading: Mark 14:10-66

Key verse: “And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.’”  (v.36)

Mark 14: 36

Abba, means “Father.” Jesus called God His Father, meaning He has a personal and close relationship with God.  Jesus knew He could call on His Father anytime, especially in times of trouble and distress. “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.’” (v.34)

Jesus knew His Father, the Lord God, is all-powerful and all-knowing. “And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You…’” (v.36). Jesus knew His Father could do anything. God created the heavens and the earth. He had all the power and resources. He could command His legions of angels to stop and intervene in His Son’s situation if He desired to. 

Jesus knew well that His Father is gracious and merciful. “Take this cup away from Me.”

Jesus knew His Father loved Him very much, and He could spare Him from suffering if He wished to do so. However, in all these circumstances, Jesus still submitted to the Father’s plan and will.

“…nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Jesus was humble and submissive to His Father’s will because He knew His Father’s plan of salvation for us all. Jesus was willing to suffer because He knew His Father’s heart was to save everyone from sin and hell. Jesus knew His Father loved Him, but God the Father also loved every person in the world, so He was willing to sacrifice His only Son.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Reflection:

Because of God’s great love for you and me, Jesus gave His life on the cross. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation of our souls, to give us eternal life.

 See: Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it ^[b]robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but ^[c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus thank you for your willingness to submit to the will of the Father. Holy Spirit please help me be willing to submit also to my Lord’s will and plan. Amen.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus Christ – John 8:32

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, – by Paul,  I Corinthians 15:3-4

TRIAL

So, then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”  Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

But they cried out, “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!”

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. –

John 19

Resurrection:

 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ⁷ But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

⁸ So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. -Mark 16: 6-8

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.- John20

The Apostles Commissioned

 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

 So, Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

From the Gospel of John Chapter 19, 20

Other References: Matthew 27 & 28, Mark 15, &16, Luke 23 & 24

There in the Garden

My Savior plead,

There in the Garden

My Savior knelt down and prayed,
“Father, not my will

But Your will be done”

There in the garden

My Lord surrendered

To His Father’s plan

Yet He had won

The Victor’s crown

There in the garden

My Savior wept

He cried bloody tears of surrender

There in the garden

My Savior won over sin and temptation

Death and evil no more have dominion

There in the garden my Savior won the Victor’s Crown.

Only if they know You

Only if they know

How much you love them,

They will love you too

Only if they know your love

They too will be in awe of You.

Only if they know

That You gave Your all

Body, soul and all

Only if they know

That Your body was bruised for our transgression

Only if they know

You bore a crown of thorns

Only if they know

You carried the cross for our sins

Only if they know

Your hands and feet were nailed to the cross for our iniquities

Only if they know

Jesus only if they know

They too will be in awe

That You love them so true

Jesus if they know

How much you love them so

They too will love you so.

Unchanging love

You are my unchanging love

You picked me up when I am down

You cheer me up when I am sad

You gave me love when I was feeling unworthy

You gave me hope when there was no hope

You are my unchanging love

In my ups and downs

You are the constant One

You never change

Nothing moves you

Nothing takes you by surprise

You are always there by my side

When I needed someone to care

Jesus You are my unchanging love

Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV)

This is a parable of contrast not comparison!

Our heavenly Father is not like the unjust judge.

Parable of the Persistent Friend

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  Luke 11:5-8 (NKJV)

This is another parable of contrast not comparison!

Our Heavenly Father is never reluctant to meet the needs of His children.

Jesus’ Admonition to Ask, Seek, and Knock

So, I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.  Luke 11:9-10 (AMP)

The Father’s Desire to Give Good Gifts to His Children:

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will [instead] give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will [instead] give him a snake?  If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.  Matthew 7:9-11 (AMP)
(This is the parallel passage to Luke 11:11-13)

* ASK AND KEEP ON ASKING!
* SEEK AND KEEP ON SEEKING!
* KNOCK AND KEEP ON KNOCKING!

What amazing answers to prayer have you seen due to persistence?

What seemingly “impossible” prayer requests can we bring to the Father today?

“…With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 9:26

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1:37

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh.  Is there anything too hard for me?”  Jeremiah 32:27

Bible passages from Amplified Version and New King James Version

Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Key Verse: v4 – “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

Title: Not fair!

“It’s not fair!” cried my heart when we received the results of a virus test.  “Why not me Lord, my husband does not deserve this. He is a good man, he prays a lot for sick people, for those who are grieving and for many who are in need.”  I thought my husband did not deserve this illness that has wreaked havoc in many countries of the world.  Many have suffered, lost their jobs, their livelihood, and their loved ones.  As I lamented and complained to the Lord that morning, my Bible reading happened to be in Hebrews.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7 NIV) 

After reading these verses, I realized that, yes, my husband did not deserve to suffer from this illness, but neither did Jesus deserved the punishment of death on the cross. Jesus was a perfect man, but He still suffered humiliation, affliction, and death on the cross. It was not fair either.  We may feel that we do not deserve bad things in life, but Jesus reminded us that,

“No one is good—except God alone.  (Luke 18:19 NIV)

With the unwanted diagnosis, the next few days were difficult for my husband and me.  However, we saw the hand of God at work, getting us through each day.  We are grateful that in our case, the symptoms were mild, and that God saw us through.  

Later on, when we heard of other friends who have experienced the same illness, we were able to pray for them and encourage them. We saw God has a purpose in every situation, whether good or bad, to cause all things to work together for good. (See Romans 8:28).  

Reflection: Trust God when things in life seem not fair. God has His purpose and reason in every situation.