This week we’ll see Jesus perform His first sign or miracle, in which He turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Then He’ll go up to Jerusalem for Passover and, while there, He’ll get angry with those who are profiteering off people at the temple. He’ll drive out their animals with a whip of cords, pour out the changers’ money and overturn their tables. The notes and audio recording are both in place below.
Today we begin the Gospel of John. This Gospel differs somewhat from the first three, as it was written later and used by John to fill in some gaps in the life of Jesus that the others had not included in their stories. While all four Gospels tell of the miracles Christ performed, John spends more time on the teaching or events that took place in conjunction with the miracles. In so doing he fills the miracles with meaning.
Jesus is introduced to us as the Word, who was with God and was God from the beginning – a testimony to the deity of Christ. We’ll also meet John the Baptist, Christ’s relative, who declares Him to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Both John the Baptist and Nathanael, an early follower of Jesus, quickly conclude that He is the “Son of God.”
Listen: John01.mp3
Read: John01.pdf
This week we’ll finish the Gospel of Luke, reading his last chapter, and getting his take on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We’ll see the women visiting the empty tomb, finding angels instead of a dead body. Jesus will appear again in Jerusalem and commission His followers to take a message of repentance and forgiveness to all nations. Finally, He will lead them out to the Mt. of Olives and be carried up into heaven. “See You later, Jesus!”
Listen: Luke24.mp3
Read: Luke 24.pdf
Today we’ll see Jesus before Pilate, then Herod, then before Pilate again. We’ll see Him led to Golgotha and crucified. We’ll see Him die and be buried.
He endured all of this “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2) – the salvation of our souls. We can now “rejoice in God through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11) “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…” (1 John 3:16)
Listen: Luke23.mp3
Read: Luke23.pdf
Central Reflections 