Showing posts with label The Holy Week in Lockdown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Holy Week in Lockdown. Show all posts

Thursday, April 9, 2020

The Holy Week in Lockdown: My Kingdom Is Not of This World! (5/8)



Today’s reading: John 18

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 In this chapter, Jesus is arrested after his betrayal by one of his own disciples. The trials that follow—first by the religious leaders and then by a worldly authority—are based entirely on lies, include false witnesses and do not follow the proper legal process. Driven by jealousy, hatred and greed, these people wanted to silence him once and for all.

 Jesus, however, was not shaken in the face of this injustice; his faith and trust in God were unmoved. He knew and testified that his Kingdom is not of this world (verse 36).

 Around the world, many Christians are persecuted simply because they believe in Jesus Christ. They are discriminated against, falsely accused, arrested, imprisoned and even killed because society or those in power want to silence them—often out of jealousy or hatred, or because they are afraid of those who speak the truth. During the pandemic, this situation has only worsened for many...

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Wednesday, April 8, 2020

The Holy Week in Lockdown: Let Them Be One (4/8)



Today’s reading: John 16 + 17

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 After explaining the work of the Holy Spirit and reminding the disciples that their grief will turn into joy, Jesus then looked toward heaven and prayed for them (John 17:1). This was the last prayer that Jesus would share with his disciples before his arrest, so he emphasized his greatest concerns regarding the time when he would no longer be with them physically.

In verses 20–24, he emphasizes the importance of the unity of believers: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

There are reportedly more than 40,000 denominations in the world today, and many people are critical of the Christian faith because of divisions among believers. God has created us in beautifully diverse ways, but it is not always easy to be united in diversity...

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Tuesday, April 7, 2020

The Holy Week in Lockdown: Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled! Remain in My Love! (3/8)



Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!
Remain in My Love!

Today’s reading: John 14 + 15



Even though Jesus knows that he—and not the disciples—will soon face the suffering of the cross, he is the one comforting his disciples in these chapters, telling them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (14:1). He is not concerned about himself but fully focused on his disciples’ spiritual and emotional well-being, comforting them in their distress. Later in the passage he says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (14:27).

The world news does not give us hope or peace at this time; instead, it can make us feel anxious and afraid as we hear about the spread of a pandemic across every region of the world. But Jesus gives us a peace that the world cannot give...

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Monday, April 6, 2020

The Holy Week in Lockdown: Love One Another!


Today’s reading: John 13:1–38


Jesus washing his disciples’ feet is among the best-known scenes in the Gospels. The first verse captures the essence of the chapter: “he loved them to the end.” Washing guests’ feet was a task usually assigned to slaves, but Jesus modeled what it meant for him to lower himself and humbly serve his followers by washing the dusty feet of his twelve disciples.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet,” he says. In verses 34–35 he adds, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

At this time when millions of people are confined to their homes and have to live with each other 24 hours a day, remaining loving and kind at all times becomes a challenge...

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Looking into the lectionary - The story behind GA volunteers

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