One of the original Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ, known for betrayal of Jesus
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Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 13:1-15 - Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and He loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand Him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God, He rose from supper and took off His outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around His Waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around His Waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Master, are You going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him,“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For He knew who would betray Him; for this reason, He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet and put His garments back on and reclined at table again, He said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher' and ‘Master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Now is the perfect time for Trump to show the world that Christ is King https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/now-is-the-perfect-time-for-trump-to-remind-america-that-christ-is-king/ 3) Top 10 questions and answers about Holy Week https://www.catholic.com/tract/top-10-questions-and-answers-about-holy-week 4) Holy (Maundy) Thursday https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 13:21-33, 36-38 - Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom He meant. One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom He meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to Him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So He dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of those reclining at table realized why He said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." Simon Peter said to Him, "Master, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, though you will follow later." Peter said to Him, "Master, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny Me three times." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) "Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy erupted in applause when Secretary Duffy demanded a painting of Jesus saving merchant mariners be restored. The Biden admin put a curtain over the painting before putting it in a flood-prone basement. "Let's bring Him up!" https://x.com/JonBrownDC/status/1909780255633506322 Talk about the fruits of the Spiritual Warfare Conference 3, 4) 55 Meditations on how Jesus died on the crucifix, from a medical perspective https://thecatholicmanshow.com/55-meditations-on-the-crucifixion-of-jesus/
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified,"Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,was reclining at Jesus' side.So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him,"Master, who is it?"Jesus answered,"It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it."So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas,son of Simon the Iscariot.After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him,"Buy what we need for the feast,"or to give something to the poor.So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.When he had left, Jesus said,"Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself,and he will glorify him at once.My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.You will look for me, and as I told the Jews,'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you."Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?"Jesus answered him,"Where I am going, you cannot follow me now,though you will follow later."Peter said to him,"Master, why can I not follow you now?I will lay down my life for you."Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crowbefore you deny me three times."
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oilmade from genuine aromatic nardand anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,and the one who would betray him, said,"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wagesand given to the poor?"He said this not because he cared about the poorbut because he was a thief and held the money bagand used to steal the contributions.So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.Let her keep this for the day of my burial.You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,whom he had raised from the dead.And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,because many of the Jews were turning awayand believing in Jesus because of him.
Read OnlineThen Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?” John 12:4–5Jesus was with His disciples at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. He regularly spent time at their home and was close to them. This meal took place just before Jesus entered into Jerusalem for the first Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It was six days before Jesus would die on the cross.Recall that Lazarus had recently been raised from the dead by Jesus and also that Mary, Lazarus' sister, was deeply devoted to Jesus and is recorded as the one who sat at His feet, while her sister Martha served. During this visit, Mary offered another act of devotion to Jesus when she anointed Him with “a liter of costly perfumed oil.” She offered Him an act of love and devotion. The Scripture passage above records Judas' response as he also was at the meal. Jesus rebukes Judas and defends the act of devotion given by Mary, and the meal continues on. One clear lesson this teaches us is that nothing is too good for our Lord. It's true that we must do our part to help care for the poor, but Jesus' response to Judas is quite interesting. He says, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Jesus was not downplaying the importance of caring for the poor; He was emphasizing the importance of offering acts of love and devotion to Him.As we enter into this the holiest week of the year, we are given this image of Mary lavishing upon Jesus this liter of costly perfumed oil as a way of inviting us to do the same. Though we serve Christ in others who are in need, we must also seek to regularly offer Him devotion and love directly, even in ways that others may think is excessive. Honoring Him, expressing our love, spending time with various devotions, praying for extended periods of time, and even offering Him our financial resources are all ways in which we give Jesus the glory that is due Him. Reflect, today, upon ways in which you can imitate this act of loving devotion offered by Mary to Jesus. In what ways can you pour forth in an abundant way your time, money, talents, and energy upon our Lord? How can you best express your devotion to Him this Holy Week? Seek out ways to do this directly for the one and simple reason that you love our Lord and want to express that love this week. My glorious Jesus, You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are worthy of our deepest devotion and love. As I enter into this Holy Week, I pray that it will be a time in which I may express my deepest love for You. Help me to pour forth that love in abundance this week so as to show You the glory and praise You deserve. Jesus, I trust in You. James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
John 14New King James Version:The Way, the Truth, and the Life14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.The Father Revealed7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.The Answered Prayer12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you [c]ask anything in My name, I will do it.Jesus Promises Another Helper15 “If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.Indwelling of the Father and the Son19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [f]manifest Myself to him.”22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.The Gift of His Peace25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the [g]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because [h]I said, ‘I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (Luke 22:1-6) This section of Scripture reveals a sobering reality—proximity to Jesus does not equal devotion to Him. The chief priests and scribes, men who claimed to serve God, were blinded by their pride and hunger for control. Their fear of man outweighed their fear of God. They sought to eliminate Jesus, but only in a way that would not harm their political standing. Their hearts, though dressed in religious robes, were far from the righteousness of God. Selfish Betrayal Then we see Judas. He was one of the twelve—a man who walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles firsthand. He handled the money bag, but his love for money outweighed his love for Christ (John 12:6). His selfish heart remained unchanged despite years in Jesus' presence. And in the end, his idolatry led to his downfall. Judas didn't follow Jesus for Jesus—he followed Him for what he thought he could gain. Judas' betrayal reminds us that an unchecked heart can lead to devastating consequences. He wasn't suddenly overtaken; he had been choosing greed over devotion for a long time. When the opportunity came, he asked the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” (Matthew 26:14-15). He saw Jesus not as the Lord to be worshiped, but as a commodity to be traded. His self-seeking nature made him susceptible to the influence of Satan, who ultimately used him to fulfill his evil plans. And yet, even in this betrayal, God's sovereignty was at work. What Judas intended for evil, God used for the redemption of mankind. Jesus' journey to the cross was set in motion, ultimately fulfilling the divine and foreknown plan of salvation. Heart Check Moment: Where Do You Stand with Jesus? This passage forces us to look inward and ask ourselves questions. Take a moment to ask yourself these really hard questions and get real with yourself and God, knowing He already knows your heart and wants to reveal and change any areas not yet right with Him. He loves you so much! Are you truly following Jesus solely out of love for Him, or are you at all seeking personal gain—status, recognition, or comfort? Are there idols in your heart that compete with your devotion to Christ, just as Judas' love for money did? Sometimes we make our families, our ministry service, and even ourselves into idols. Do you fear God more than man, or do you, like the chief priests, make decisions based on how they will affect your earthly reputation? When you hear Jesus' words, do you obey with a heart of humility, or do you ever twist them in your mind to fit your own ambitions? Sometimes this can look like applying His word to how we think others need it in their life, instead of applying it to our own life. Admonition: Guard Your Heart Scripture warns us to be watchful over our hearts, because “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). None of us are immune to sin's deception. Even those who are near to Jesus—who serve, who listen to sermons, who participate in church—can have hearts that remain unchanged if they do not truly surrender to Him. The call is clear: Come humbly before God, asking Him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). Seek God's face, not just His hands—pursue His presence and being transformed in it, not just what He can give you. Repent of any idols you have before they lead you further from Him. Fear God above man—live in reverence and obedience, regardless of what it costs you. We will give our lives one way or another – either now in humble obedience and adoration to God for His work of salvation in our life, or in torment paying the penalty for our own sin. Life in Christ, both here and in eternity, is far better than any amount of money, status, recognition, or comfort we could ever gain here. I encourage you today, choose the better portion of Jesus and guard your heart against anything that could disrupt you from it.
John 14:15-24 English Standard Version Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. Footnotes John 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 John 14:17 Some manuscripts and is
March 9, 2025 John 14:15-24 (ESV) 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
Nachdem ein Fall beim Seniorenbingo das Spannunngslevel in der Detektei auf ein Minimum gesenkt hat, stolpern die beiden Kriminal Kaimane ausgerechnet in einem ausgemachten Revolverblatt über einen bizarren Fall, der sich in der vergangenen Nacht in Los Angeles ereignet hat. Die Recherche erweist sich als ein wahres Puzzle. Aber eines mit mindestens 1000 Teilen, die fast alle die selbe Farbe haben. Also gar nicht mal so leicht. Mit Bobbys Unterstützung dringen Eric und (der heimliche Fan) Leo nicht nur in die Welt des Gangster Raps ein, sondern führt das Trio knietief in einen okkulten Fall der Extraklasse. Wie die Detektive sich dieses Mal anstellen und was ausgerechnet eine Katze in dieser wahrlich dämonischen Geschichte zu suchen hat, findest Du am besten heraus, wenn Du jetzt endlich auf “Play” drückst! VÖ: 14. März 2025 Idee, Geschichte & Design: Markus "MJ" Jakob Casting, Regie, Schnitt & Produktion: Markus "MJ" Jakob Titelmelodie: Sascha Dörr / Saschisch Entertainment Effekte & Jingles: Adobe, Sonniss, freesound.org & Envato Bilder: Midjourney Eazy Weazy - "Dreamz Don't Expire" by Suno.com SPRECHER*INNEN ERIC ISCARIOT: Markus "MJ" Jakob LEO BERNSTEIN: David Beyer BOBBY MCQUEEN: Melle Teich ERZÄHLER: Jan Abraham MADAME KATINKA: Tina Wolff EAZY WEAZY: Enes Yokus CASSANDRA: Manuela D. aka Chinchi BIG G: Henning Lübbecke BRAD TAYLOR: Michael Käse CAPTAIN WESTWOOD: Lars Eickstädt EVIE PERKINS: Laura Hensel SCOTT JAMESON: Christian Gürnth CYRIL DELONGE: Alexander von Klein XARATOS: ??? HANS-JÜRGEN & EDITH JAKOB: Hans-Jürgen & Edith Jakob JINGLE CREDITS: Jingle 1: Orchestral Suspense Loop 2 by AWRMACD
Have you ever felt ill-equipped to serve God? If you have, that feeling may actually be your super-power!· Today's passage will show us how… In verses 21 and 23 Jesus makes very similar statements. To paraphrase He says: “They who hear my words and keep my commandments, love me and my Father loves them.”· Some have wrongfully interpreted that verse as “work's righteousness”.o There is only one thing that makes us righteous and that's the shed blood of Jesus!· But if that's not what Jesus was talking about, what did He mean? John 14:21b- He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and “manifest” myself to him.· What does Jesus mean when He says; “I will manifest to you.”? Luckily, one of Jesus' disciples has the same question:o John 14:22- Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him; Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? John 14:23- If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.· On the day of Pentecost Jesus' words were made manifest in the Church, for on that day the Holy Spirit was made available to ALL who would accept Him. Take home messageGod doesn't need people to do things for Him. He wants people who He can do things through! Theme: “God, manifest in US!” Scripture: John 14:18-24 Simple. Authentic. Jesus. Prairiebible.org
Today’s Bible Verse: “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” - Luke 22:3
In this study of John 14:22-31, we explore Jesus' promise of peace and the presence of the Holy Spirit. As Judas (not Iscariot) questions how Jesus will reveal Himself, Jesus explains that those who love Him will keep His word, and God's Spirit will dwell with them. The Holy Spirit, called the Advocate, will teach and remind the disciples of everything Jesus said, ensuring they are never alone. This promise is both practical and comforting, offering peace that transcends fear and uncertainty. Even though Jesus will physically leave, the Spirit's presence ensures that His teachings and guidance remain accessible to all believers. Pastor Talk Quick Links: Learn more about the Pastor Talk series and view our previous studies at https://pastortalk.co Subscribe to get the Pastor Talk episodes via podcast, email and much more! https://pastortalk.co#subscribe Questions or ideas? Connect with us! https://pastortalk.co#connect Interested in joining us for worship on Sunday at 8:50am? Join us at https://fpcspiritlake.org/stream
In this study of John 14:22-31, we explore Jesus' promise of peace and the presence of the Holy Spirit. As Judas (not Iscariot) questions how Jesus will reveal Himself, Jesus explains that those who love Him will keep His word, and God's Spirit will dwell with them. The Holy Spirit, called the Advocate, will teach and remind the disciples of everything Jesus said, ensuring they are never alone. This promise is both practical and comforting, offering peace that transcends fear and uncertainty. Even though Jesus will physically leave, the Spirit's presence ensures that His teachings and guidance remain accessible to all believers. Pastor Talk Quick Links: Learn more about the Pastor Talk series and view our previous studies at https://pastortalk.co Subscribe to get the Pastor Talk episodes via podcast, email and much more! https://pastortalk.co#subscribe Questions or ideas? Connect with us! https://pastortalk.co#connect Interested in joining us for worship on Sunday at 8:50am? Join us at https://fpcspiritlake.org/stream
"Occupy till I come." Troubling times arrived with the interrogation and condemnation of Jesus. The religious leaders declared, "...we will not have [Jesus] rule over us." This rejection led to the end of Jesus' physical ministry and his life. His disciples and followers were also considered transgressors. Now the followers of Christ are responsible for the will of God that is accomplished in the earth. My peace is not as the world gives. Jesus is not able to help or intervene directly; it's our job. We must hear the Word of God for guidance. Three ways to know when you have been regenerated: 1) Keep the commandments; 2) Spirit of God bears witness to us; and 3) love the brethren (with actions).***107: Jesus Predicts Peter's DenialMatthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38WHEN THEY came to the Mount of Olives, Jesus said to his disciples: “All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.' But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” Peter replied, saying: “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet I will never be offended.” Jesus answered him: “Verily I say unto thee that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Peter answered: “Though I should die with thee, yet I will not deny thee.” All the disciples said the same. Then Jesus said to his disciples: “When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing?” The disciples replied: “Nothing.” Jesus spoke to them, saying: “But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, ‘And he was reckoned among the transgressors.' For the things concerning me have an end.” The disciples answered: “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” Jesus answered: “It is enough.” One of the disciples–Judas, but not Iscariot–asked Jesus: “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” Jesus replied: “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my...
Do you have one of those popular names? The one where people call you out in a crowd, and you are unsure if it is you? James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ — James 1:1 I don't have one of those popular names, but many of you do. So when someone yells my name, I take notice. Many years ago, I remember a father stopped by my house to pick up his son, who was hanging out with my son. He came to the door and said: "I'm Vince, here to pick up my son." And I was instantly confused. I was like, "You mean 'Your Vince.'" And he replies, "No, I am Vince," as he points to himself. And I reply, "Don't argue with me buddy..." It took a few seconds to register, but I don't hear people use my name often, so moments like that catch me off guard. But that is not the case with James. James was a popular name in the first century, so since this person addresses the book with a singular name, we have to figure out which James is writing this letter. The 4 Possible James James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot). He is briefly mentioned in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13, but very little is known about him. He is not considered a likely option as the author. James, Son of Alphaeus (One of the Twelve Apostles). He is also known as “James the Less.” He is mentioned in the Gospels but remains an obscure figure. There's no strong tradition linking him to the authorship of the letter. James, Son of Zebedee (Also one of the Twelve Apostles). This particular James was one of Jesus' closest disciples and the brother of John. However, he was martyred early (Acts 12:2), which makes him an unlikely author since he was dead when the book was written. James, the Half-Brother of Jesus. This James became a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13-21). He is often called "James the Just." The most widely held view is that James, the half-brother of Jesus, authored the letter. Why? The 4 Reasons Why First, James was a prominent leader in the early church, especially among Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Second, he is deeply aware of Jewish customs, wisdom literature, and Old Testament themes that reflect this background. Third, early church tradition consistently points to Jesus' half-brother as the author. Fourth, it makes the most sense since his name stands alone. Everyone in their day would have known we were not talking about any other James other than the half-brother of Jesus. By the time this letter was written, James wasn't just any leader; he was a man of unwavering faith, known for his integrity and boldness in calling others to live out their faith. The letter's tone matches his character—direct, practical, and challenging, like a spiritual coach urging you to grow up in your faith. It's hard to imagine a better fit for the author than James, the half-brother of Jesus. Your Name or His Name? James's introduction struck me because he could have easily started with, “James, the brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church.” But he doesn't. He never flaunts his family connection to Jesus or his leadership position in the church. Instead, he leads with God and Jesus, the subjects that matter, and he is merely a servant subject to them. Which I believe is one of the reasons he doesn't use an identifier here with his name. To him, his name doesn't matter. He is a servant, not a sibling. You see, it's not the name we have that matters most—it's the name we live for. James wasn't seeking fame; he was seeking to make the name of Jesus famous. So what about you? When your name is spoken, what comes to the minds of those who hear it? Are you known for something you do or something you have done, or rather for what Jesus has done and is doing through you? Reflect on this, but more importantly, live for a greater name and be known for him, leaving his legacy ahead and your old life behind. #LivingForChrist, #FaithOverFame, #HumbleServant Ask This: What name or identity do you live for daily—your's or Christ's? How does James's humility challenge your perspective on leadership? When others hear your name, do they think of Jesus? What practical step can you take today to reflect Christ's legacy? Do This: Live all in for Him. Pray This: Lord, help me to live for Your name and not my own, seeking to make You known above all else. Teach me to walk in humility, reflecting Your love and legacy in everything I do. Amen. Play This: Famous One.
John 14:15-31 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.21 The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. 24 The one who does not love Me does not follow My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you.26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in regard to Me, 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let's go from here. BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com GIVE - The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here: https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net
The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich
Father Edward Looney reads and comments on The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.Day 143Volume 2FROM THE SECOND FEAST OF TABERNACLES TO THE FIRST CONVERSION OF MAGDALENChapter 7: Jesus in Iscariot and Dothan. Cure of Issachar.LEARN MORE - USE COUPON CODE ACE25 FOR 25% OFFThe Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3QVreIsThe Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4bPsxRmThe Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Two-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3yxaLE5The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/3wTRsULMary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4brYEXbThe Mystical City of God Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/44Q9nZbOur Lady of Good Help: Prayer Book for Pilgrims - https://bit.ly/3Ke6O9SThe Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich is a podcast from TAN that takes you through one of the most extraordinary books ever published. Follow along daily as Father Edward Looney works his way through the classic four-volume set, The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, by reading a passage from the book and then giving his commentary. Discover the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged by God to behold innumerable events of biblical times.Anne Catherine's visions included the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events, and traditions in intimate detail, she also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities. Here is the infinite love of God incarnate and made manifest for all to see, made all the more striking and vivid by the accounts Blessed Anne has relayed.Listen and subscribe to The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich on your favorite podcast platform or at EmmerichPodcast.com.And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at TANBooks.com and use Coupon Code ACE25 for 25% off your next order.
The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich
Father Edward Looney reads and comments on The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.Day 142Volume 2FROM THE SECOND FEAST OF TABERNACLES TO THE FIRST CONVERSION OF MAGDALENChapter 7: Jesus in Iscariot and Dothan. Cure of Issachar.LEARN MORE - USE COUPON CODE ACE25 FOR 25% OFFThe Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3QVreIsThe Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4bPsxRmThe Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Two-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3yxaLE5The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/3wTRsULMary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4brYEXbThe Mystical City of God Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/44Q9nZbOur Lady of Good Help: Prayer Book for Pilgrims - https://bit.ly/3Ke6O9SThe Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich is a podcast from TAN that takes you through one of the most extraordinary books ever published. Follow along daily as Father Edward Looney works his way through the classic four-volume set, The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, by reading a passage from the book and then giving his commentary. Discover the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged by God to behold innumerable events of biblical times.Anne Catherine's visions included the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events, and traditions in intimate detail, she also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities. Here is the infinite love of God incarnate and made manifest for all to see, made all the more striking and vivid by the accounts Blessed Anne has relayed.Listen and subscribe to The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich on your favorite podcast platform or at EmmerichPodcast.com.And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at TANBooks.com and use Coupon Code ACE25 for 25% off your next order.
In Luke 6:12, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer, for He was about to call His 12 Apostles from among the many disciples who were following Him. You might ask what is the difference between a disciple of Jesus and an Apostle? A disciple is a learner, one who “disciplines” him or herself to follow Jesus as an apprentice. In the New Testament an Apostle is a chosen messenger sent with a special commission. Jesus had many disciples (see Luke 10:1) but only twelve handpicked Apostles. It is here in Luke 6:14-16 that Luke gives us their names. The names of the Apostles are also given in Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:16-19; and Acts 1:13. Acts, of course only names 11 of them and leaves out Judas Iscariot because he has committed suicide. In all the lists, Peter is named first and, except in Acts 1:13, Judas is named last. The Judas in Acts 1:13 is Judas the brother (more likely "the son") of James, who is also called Thaddeus in Mark 3:18. It was not unusual for one man to have two or more names. Simon received the name Peter (stone) when Andrew brought him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). Bartholomew is the same as Nathanael (John 1:45-49). The other Simon in the group was nicknamed "Zelotes," which can mean one of two things. It may mean that he belonged to a group of fanatical Jewish patriots known as "the Zealots," whose purpose was to deliver Israel from the tyranny of Rome. Or, perhaps the word Zelotes translates from the Hebrew word qanna which means "jealous for God, zealous for God's honor." Nor are we sure of the origin of the word Iscariot that is attached to Judas the traitor. It probably means "man [ish in Hebrew] of Kerioth," a town in southern Judah (Josh. 15:25). Some connect it with the Aramaic word seqar which means "falsehood." Thus, "Judas the false one." The geographical explanation is probably right What an interesting group of men! They illustrate what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, and they are an encouragement to us today. After all, if God could use them, can He not use us? Perhaps seven of them were fishermen (see John 21:1-3), one was a tax collector, and the other four are anonymous as far as their vocations are concerned. They were ordinary men; their personalities were different; yet Jesus called them to be with Him, to learn from Him, and to go out to represent Him (Mark 3:14). Please take the time to click on the following link and go to my Pastor Mike Impact Ministries website and read some very interesting, detailed observations on these 12 men taken from John Phillip's commentary on Luke. https://www.pmiministries.org/post/special-notes-on-the-disciples-of-jesus Why 12 Apostles? Because there were twelve tribes in Israel, and Jesus was forming the nucleus for a new nation (see Matt. 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9). The first Christians were Jews because the Gospel came "to the Jew first" (Acts 13:46; Rom. 1:16). Later, the Gentiles were added to the church through the witness of the scattered Jewish believers (Acts 11:19) and the ministry of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. In the church, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because we are "all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). It is significant that after Jesus called His 12 Apostles, and before He preached this great sermon, He took time to heal many needy people. This was a demonstration of both His power and His compassion. It was also a reminder to His newly appointed assistants that their job was to share His love and power with a needy world. It is estimated that there were 300 million people in the world in Jesus' day, while there are over 8 billion today, four fifths of them in the less-developed nations. What a challenge to the church! One of the greatest callings that you can respond to in life, is “to be on mission with Jesus” to share the Good News of salvation through His Cross with the lost and needy world around us! Yes, God can use you too! God bless!
Jhn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;Jhn 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.Jhn 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Jhn 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.Jhn 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.Jhn 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.Jhn 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.Jhn 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.Jhn 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.Jhn 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.Jhn 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.Jhn 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.Jhn 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.Jhn 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.Jhn 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
As we close out the "Changed" sermon series, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at the most tragic figure in all of Scripture -- Judas Iscariot. Judas is proof that it is possible to live in close proximity to the love and grace offered through Jesus Christ and still reject the invitation to follow Him with your whole heart and soul.
Send us a Text Message.Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comFor an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessThis Podcast is Hosted at;https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.comWhen You Are Feeling All Alone: Episode Notes For (John 14:8-21)Introduction: Imagine being one of the apostles, having lived, worked, and loved alongside Jesus for years. You would have formed incredibly close and intimate bonds. This was not a typical teacher-student relationship but more akin to a mentorship and partnership, filled with personal interaction and encouragement. The source of their united friendship, fellowship, security, and significance was about to depart. They likely felt deserted, alone, and abandoned.Setting the Scene: John 14 records this pivotal event, and we've been examining it over several days. Today, we'll continue exploring this discourse in our latest episode of BPDP.Overview: The disciples were reeling from Jesus' announcement of His imminent departure. During this upper room dialogue, Jesus began by washing their feet, then declared His departure, prompting a series of questions from the disciples—Peter, Thomas, Philip, and Judas (not Iscariot). Despite their questions, Jesus used this opportunity to teach them important spiritual truths. Today, we'll focus on Philip's question, which takes us from John 14:8 to John 14:21.Philip's Question: Philip's question reveals his deep desire to see and know God more fully, (John 14:8). This question arises from a misunderstanding of Jesus' earlier statement in verse 7, where Jesus said, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."Jesus' Response: Jesus' response to Philip is profound and addresses the disciples' fears about His departure. Jesus emphasizes His unity with the Father. Seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing the Father. His words and works are those of the Father. This reassurance must have been overwhelming for the disciples. Even though Jesus was leaving, they were not being abandoned. The Father remained with them because He is in Jesus, and Jesus is in the Father.Jesus assures them that they will do even greater works through prayer. This doesn't necessarily mean performing more spectacular miracles but achieving greater scope through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Their works would no longer be limited geographically but would spread worldwide.Jesus reassures them that although He is leaving, He will send another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will be with them forever. This Comforter will counsel and empower them to continue Jesus' work. The Holy Spirit's presence ensures that they are not left as orphans.Conclusion: Jesus' departure was not the end but a new beginning. Through prayer, obedience, and the Holy Spirit, the disciples would do even greater works. They would experience Jesus' ongoing presence and love. This passage reassures us that we are never truly alone. Jesus' presence, through the Holy Spirit, is with us always, guiding and empowering us to carry out His work.Support the Show.Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com
Send us a Text Message.“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd. Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ' And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.”—Luke 22:1-13 Support the Show.The American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe
Jesus of Nazareth had several brothers and sisters, among them were two who became well kown in the churches, James and Judas. Yes Jesus had a brother named Judas ad he had two disciple/apostles with that name also. Judas was a common and honored named among the Jews associated with the tribe of Judah from whom David came and from whom came the promised Messiah. However the betrayal of Jesus by his disciple ,Judas Iscariot, ruined the name. Thus this letter bears the name, Jude. See Scripture verses, Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.Matthew 13:55-57; Matthew 12:46, John 6:42; Galatians 1:19;Jude 1:1Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”Disciples named Judas, John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”Mark 3:16-20 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.weebly.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
April 21, 2024 - Sunday 8:00AM Auditorium Speaker Speaker: Neal Pollard John 14-16 - I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. I Am the True Vine 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. The Hatred of the World 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.' 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. 16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. The Work of the Holy Spirit “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy 16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, ‘because I am going to the Father'?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I Have Overcome the World 25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” The Coming of the Spirit The Spirit in John "You are not alone" Appellatives of the Spirit (like names) Helper - advocate - mediator - Represents God to us not us to God. Spirit of truth - John 15:26; 14:6; Jesus makes himself the arbiter of truth. - John 1:14, 1:17, 8:45-46; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12 Holy Spirit. Isaiah 6:1-3 The Holy Spirit is our helper. He comforts, corrects and strengthens us as he personally abides in us. 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; John 17:17 Assistance of the Spirit In their works - John 14:10-14; Col 1:23 through revelation - John 14:26, 16:13-15 through testifying Convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement - 2 Cor 5:21 Assurances of the Spirit - John 14:1, 18, 27, John 16:1, 16:33. Its not wrong to be afraid but when I'm afraid I should trust. He will be with you forever John 16:1; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:14-18; The Holy spirit dwells in us. Romans 8 Because the Spirit of God is in us, it gives us identity and Help (26) He will bring to you remembrance John 14:26; Mark 13:11; 2 Peter 1:20-24; Acts 1:16; 1 Peter 1:11; John 14:26 He will declare the things which are to some. (15:26) 2 Thess. 2; 2 Peter 3; Rev 2:1-22 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN2oz0vrEXg Duration 40:59
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 14:21-26 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the one who loves Me. Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to Him, "Master, then what happened that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to Him and make our dwelling with Him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; yet the word you hear is not Mine but that of the Father Who sent Me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name -- He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Saint Catherine, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel John 14:21-26 Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name -- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Reflection The change that Jesus wanted to bring to the world is something that's always been difficult for us to understand. What we can understand is that the rules and regulations have to be done, and if we do them, then we will receive something. But Jesus doesn't talk that way. He doesn't talk about doing something. He talks about being someone. And the being you have to be is the one who has responded perfectly to what God commands. And what he commands is that you love him. If you love him, you will have a gift, and the gift is the fullness of who he is, as revealed in Jesus. God the father is our creator. Jesus is the one that reveals who the father is. And then the Holy Spirit comes along and says, I am here to teach you, remind you, show you over and over and over again. Because the work of being in love, in a state of being that you know you are loved is a thing that we work on all the time. It's not, we get it and we've got it. We just evolve and evolve and evolve until we become the kingdom of God. Closing Prayer Let us pray. Father, we have a hard time dealing with things that we can't fully understand. But we do know what love is. We do know what it feels like to love someone or to have them love us. Help us to realize this is the major commandment that God has called us to be. Lovers, caretakers, people that support one another. That's the work. That's the goal of all faith and truth. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Jesus said to his disciples:"Whoever has my commandments and observes themis the one who loves me.Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,and I will love him and reveal myself to him."Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,"Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to usand not to the world?"Jesus answered and said to him,"Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love him,and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;yet the word you hear is not minebut that of the Father who sent me."I have told you this while I am with you.The Advocate, the Holy Spiritwhom the Father will send in my name --he will teach you everythingand remind you of all that I told you."
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Mrk 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. Mrk 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Mat 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Luk 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Luk 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. Luk 22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Because God has bound himself to his people in love, we must lovingly obey him. John 14:15-26 [15] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. [18] “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20] In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [24] Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. [25] “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Supposed to be seeking Kingdom and Righteousness; Social Justice; Justice vs revenge; Clergy/Laity; 329AD food shortage; Constantinian church; Following Christ's Way; Justin's apology; "Romans"; Roman republic; Daily ministration; God's vs man's governing; Caesar chronology; Degeneration of society; Sitting in darkness; John 12:1 pre-passover; "had the bag"; Rightful division of Church resources; Judas Iscariot not caring for the poor; "kleptes"; Religious orders; Ten-family groups; Libera res publica; Poor respecting the rich because they cared for them directly; "Scribes"; Faith becoming allegiance; "The Seven"; Benefits; Caring for the needy; How are you binding yourselves together?; Ez 16:49 sin of Sodom; Sharing charity with mercy; Addictions; 300 pence selling oil to the poor; Very expensive; Judas of Simon of Iscariot?; Freewill giving; Representative conversations; Church providing entire social welfare for community; Deut 17; Book for government of, for and by the people; Role of Laity (people); Juries and hearths; Roman consciousness of law; Supporting Jesus; "Name" of the Lord; Matt 21:1; Mark 11:1; Zec 9:9; Addiction to legal charity; Eroding family values; "Worship"; Fruit you should bear; Feasts to promote binding the nation together; Leaven = cruelty/oppression; Social Security; Compounding error; "general" welfare?; Willingness to give; Being of value to God; Christ abiding forever; Mt 24:27; The garden cherub; "love"; Obedient sons; Repentance; Loving man's benefits; Perverted versions of Moses and Christ; "logos" (word) = right reason; We are not to be like the governments of the gentiles - coveting neighbors' property; Live in the Light.
John 13:1-15 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher' and ‘master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 13:1-15 - Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand Him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God, He rose from supper and took off His outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around His Waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around His Waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For He knew who would betray Him; for this reason, He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet and put His garments back on and reclined at table again, He said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher' and ‘Master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Traditions of Holy Thursday https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/traditions-holy-thursday/ TAGS: Virgin Most Powerful Radio, VMP Radio, VMPR, Internet Radio, The Terry and Jesse Show, Jesse Romero, Terry Barber, Bible, Catholic, Scripture, Catechism, Full Sheen Ahead, Fulton Sheen, Bishop Sheen , Holy Thursday traditions
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel John 13:1-15 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher' and ‘master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Reflection It's clear in the Scripture that the disciples did not understand the Kingdom that Jesus came to establish. It was a wonderful kingdom so different than the temple. It was not about people having authority over someone else, about each individual being cared for and honored for their dignity and their value. So it strikes me that what Jesus was giving them example of, is the Kingdom of God that's going to come is never going to be caught up and should never be caught up in a kind of servitude that it demands of others, but rather the institution, the work, the community has to be that of a servant. One who honors the person that they're serving and not having some kind of power over them. Closing Prayer Father, We are a church, each of us, without realizing it, perhaps. We represent who Christ is. That's our role here on this planet. And when we ever use our authority over people, when we tend to abuse them in any way by taking away their freedom or by simply controlling their life, we need to notice that, we need to be afraid of that kind of way of service. It's not really what people need. They don't need to be told what to do. They need to be honored for who they are. That's what we pray for. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had cometo pass from this world to the Father.He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.So, during supper,fully aware that the Father had put everything into his powerand that he had come from God and was returning to God,he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.He took a towel and tied it around his waist.Then he poured water into a basinand began to wash the disciples' feetand dry them with the towel around his waist.He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”Jesus answered and said to him,“What I am doing, you do not understand now,but you will understand later.”Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”Jesus answered him,“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”Simon Peter said to him,“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”Jesus said to him,“Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;so you are clean, but not all.”For he knew who would betray him;for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”So when he had washed their feetand put his garments back on and reclined at table again,he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?You call me ‘teacher' and ‘master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,you ought to wash one another's feet.I have given you a model to follow,so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 - Reclining at table with His disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified,"Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom He meant. One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom He meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to Him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So He dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of those reclining at table realized why He said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." Simon Peter said to Him, "Master, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, though you will follow later." Peter said to him, "Master, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny Me three times." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Jesse recaps the Rosary Rally on 23 March 2024) in front of an LGBTQ and drag queen festival in Phoenix, AZ, across the street from the Diocese of Phoenix Chancery office 3, 4) Psych experts call left-wing leaders "psychopathic" https://www.wnd.com/2024/03/new-research-psych-experts-call-left-wing-leaders-psychopathic/
Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom He meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom He meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to Him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So He dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of those reclining at table realized why He said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, though you will follow later." Peter said to Him, "Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." Bishop Strickland and Terry discuss Father Jeffrey Kirby's analysis of why Bishops are silent in today's American Church
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel John 13:21-33, 36-38 Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later." Peter said to him, "Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” Reflection This is one of the most dramatic moments in Scripture. It's a confrontation between goodness and evil. And many people ask, you know, why did this happen? Why was Judas turning toward the evil? I mean, it's like there was no more holy environment in which to grow and change than this tiny group of people listening every day to the work and seeing the majesty of Jesus. How could evil get into that? How is evil a part of the world? And we have to understand that in the plan of Jesus, in the plan that's been revealed to us. Evil has a place. And when Jesus said, this is the way it's written, I think that's what he's really saying. The work that we have is a struggle, and we know that we have a power much greater than any evil. But when it's there, we have to name it and ask it to leave Closing Prayer Father, mystery of imperfection Evil is very difficult for us to grasp. We tend to think that you want us to be free completely of all evil. But that's not your plan. It comes in. We struggle with it. We learn from it. Help us not to be afraid of the fact that, yes, like the disciples themselves, we get caught up sometimes in a way of seeing the world and the what we need over what should be done for others. We get lost in that. Give us patience with ourselves as Jesus had patience with Judas. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified,"Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,was reclining at Jesus' side.So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him,"Master, who is it?"Jesus answered,"It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it."So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas,son of Simon the Iscariot.After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him,"Buy what we need for the feast,"or to give something to the poor.So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.When he had left, Jesus said,"Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself,and he will glorify him at once.My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.You will look for me, and as I told the Jews,'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you."Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?"Jesus answered him,"Where I am going, you cannot follow me now,though you will follow later."Peter said to him,"Master, why can I not follow you now?I will lay down my life for you."Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crowbefore you deny me three times."
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 12:1-11 - Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for Him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the Feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of His disciples, and the one who would betray Him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of My burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." The large crowd of the Jews found out that He was there and came, not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. Bishop Sheen quote of the day Father Charles Murr joins Terry to discuss the Gospel of John on Monday of Holy Week, the week that changed the world
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel John 12:1-11 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. Reflection These next two weeks are very, very important, for they talk about the very essence of why Jesus came into the world and the resistance and the acceptance that He encountered. Three people in the story stand out, obviously. Judas, Lazarus, and Martha. Judas represents all those who reject Jesus, Martha, all those who accept him, embrace him, and long for that same strength that he has to be something that touches everyone's life, to be anointed. And the image of the aroma going through the whole house is so beautiful. And then there was Lazarus, who more than almost anyone else, witnessed the power of God over death, over everything that would harm us. So we see three major actors in these next two weeks that set the stage for the recognition of who Jesus is and how he touched so many people and how some rejected it. Which one are you? That's the question. Closing Prayer Father, you have now come to the end of your ministry. You are about to make so many statements, so clearly stating who you are. And that you had to return to the father in order for all these things that you are talked about, that you are, that we can become. Open us to this great mystery of transformation. That's the gift of Christ's redemption. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oilmade from genuine aromatic nardand anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,and the one who would betray him, said,"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wagesand given to the poor?"He said this not because he cared about the poorbut because he was a thief and held the money bagand used to steal the contributions.So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.Let her keep this for the day of my burial.You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,whom he had raised from the dead.And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,because many of the Jews were turning awayand believing in Jesus because of him.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?” John 12:4–5Jesus was with His disciples at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. He regularly spent time at their home and was close to them. This meal took place just before Jesus entered into Jerusalem for the first Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It was six days before Jesus would die on the cross.Recall that Lazarus had recently been raised from the dead by Jesus and also that Mary, Lazarus' sister, was deeply devoted to Jesus and is recorded as the one who sat at His feet, while her sister Martha served. During this visit, Mary offered another act of devotion to Jesus when she anointed Him with “a liter of costly perfumed oil.” She offered Him an act of love and devotion. The Scripture passage above records Judas' response as he also was at the meal. Jesus rebukes Judas and defends the act of devotion given by Mary, and the meal continues on. One clear lesson this teaches us is that nothing is too good for our Lord. It's true that we must do our part to help care for the poor, but Jesus' response to Judas is quite interesting. He says, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Jesus was not downplaying the importance of caring for the poor; He was emphasizing the importance of offering acts of love and devotion to Him.As we enter into this the holiest week of the year, we are given this image of Mary lavishing upon Jesus this liter of costly perfumed oil as a way of inviting us to do the same. Though we serve Christ in others who are in need, we must also seek to regularly offer Him devotion and love directly, even in ways that others may think is excessive. Honoring Him, expressing our love, spending time with various devotions, praying for extended periods of time, and even offering Him our financial resources are all ways in which we give Jesus the glory that is due Him. Reflect, today, upon ways in which you can imitate this act of loving devotion offered by Mary to Jesus. In what ways can you pour forth in an abundant way your time, money, talents, and energy upon our Lord? How can you best express your devotion to Him this Holy Week? Seek out ways to do this directly for the one and simple reason that you love our Lord and want to express that love this week. My glorious Jesus, You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are worthy of our deepest devotion and love. As I enter into this Holy Week, I pray that it will be a time in which I may express my deepest love for You. Help me to pour forth that love in abundance this week so as to show You the glory and praise You deserve. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Ointment of the Magdalene, By James Tissot, via Wikimedia Commons
If you love me, keep my commandments. I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him and doesn't know him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who doesn't love me doesn't keep my words. The word which you hear isn't mine, but the Father's who sent me. I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let's go from here.
With family: 2 Chronicles 29; Revelation 15 2 Chronicles 29 (Listen) Hezekiah Reigns in Judah 29 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah1 the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth2 from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” 12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.” Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship 20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the LORD. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to3 the LORD. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33 And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. Footnotes [1] 29:1 Spelled Abi in 2 Kings 18:2 [2] 29:5 Hebrew impurity [3] 29:31 Hebrew filled your hand for (ESV) Revelation 15 (Listen) The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!14 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent2 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Footnotes [1] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages [2] 15:5 Or tabernacle (ESV) In private: Zechariah 11; John 14 Zechariah 11 (Listen) The Flock Doomed to Slaughter 11 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars!2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled!3 The sound of the wail of the shepherds, for their glory is ruined! The sound of the roar of the lions, for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined! 4 Thus said the LORD my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. 5 Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, I have become rich,' and their own shepherds have no pity on them. 6 For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the LORD. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.” 7 So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. 8 In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. 9 So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” 10 And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. 14 Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15 Then the LORD said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. 17 “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!” (ESV) John 14 (Listen) I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;1 believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?2 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”3 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.4 From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me5 anything in my name, I will do it. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,6 to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be7 in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. Footnotes [1] 14:1 Or You believe in God [2] 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you [3] 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know [4] 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also [5] 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me [6] 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 [7] 14:17 Some manuscripts and is (ESV)
With family: 2 Chronicles 8; 3 John 2 Chronicles 8 (Listen) Solomon's Accomplishments 8 At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them. 3 And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and took it. 4 He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities that he built in Hamath. 5 He also built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, 6 and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 7 All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, 8 from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed—these Solomon drafted as forced labor, and so they are to this day. 9 But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen. 10 And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, 250, who exercised authority over the people. 11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.” 12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD that he had built before the vestibule, 13 as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. 14 According to the ruling of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God had commanded. 15 And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries. 16 Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from1 the day the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed. 17 Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent to him by the hand of his servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon and brought from there 450 talents2 of gold and brought it to King Solomon. Footnotes [1] 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew to [2] 8:18 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms (ESV) 3 John (Listen) Greeting 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers1 came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Support and Opposition 5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. Final Greetings 13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. Footnotes [1] 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10 (ESV) In private: Habakkuk 3; Luke 22 Habakkuk 3 (Listen) Habakkuk's Prayer 3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth. 2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.5 Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.16 He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation?9 You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows.2 Selah You split the earth with rivers.10 The mountains saw you and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice; it lifted its hands on high.11 The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped, at the flash of your glittering spear.12 You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger.13 You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck.3 Selah14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.15 You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters. 16 I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Habakkuk Rejoices in the Lord 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed4 instruments. Footnotes [1] 3:5 Hebrew feet [2] 3:9 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain [3] 3:13 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain [4] 3:19 Hebrew my stringed (ESV) Luke 22 (Listen) The Plot to Kill Jesus 22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Judas to Betray Jesus 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. The Passover with the Disciples 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus1 sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Institution of the Lord's Supper 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it2 until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.3 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. Who Is the Greatest? 24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,4 that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter5 said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus6 said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.7 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus 47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant8 of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Peter Denies Jesus 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. Jesus Is Mocked 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. Jesus Before the Council 66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” Footnotes [1] 22:8 Greek he [2] 22:16 Some manuscripts never eat it again [3] 22:20 Some manuscripts omit, in whole or in part, verses 19b-20 (which is given . . . in my blood) [4] 22:31 The Greek word for you (twice in this verse) is plural; in verse 32, all four instances are singular [5] 22:33 Greek He [6] 22:34 Greek He [7] 22:44 Some manuscripts omit verses 43 and 44 [8] 22:50 Or bondservant (ESV)
In this Bible Story, the remnant of Judah struggles to regain stability. Some leaders desired to serve Babylon and make peace. Others desire to rebel. As a result, brother turns against brother. The remnant of Judah is torn, and many of them flee to Egypt despite Jeremiah's warnings. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 25:22-30 & Jeremiah 40–44, 52:31-34. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 44:28 from the King James Version.Episode 160: Judah had been captured, Jerusalem ruined, and Gedaliah son of Ahikam had been appointed as governor over the land. Gedaliah wanted peace for the people and constantly negotiated for their welfare peacefully submitting to Babylon. However, as he was traveling among the towns of Judah, he was murdered by one of his friends, Ishmael. This led to more and more chaos as Johanan killed Ishmael in revenge and the remnant of Judah was faced with a choice, flee to Egypt or stay and submit to Babylon. Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.