Day 576 - John 18 & Psalm 18

 Michelle

This reading goes through the details of Jesus being arrested and Peter's denial.  It's interesting that the high priests sent him to Pilate and yet Pilate did not find any reason to execute him.  It sounds like really didn't have any reason to.  In the first part of this reading, Jesus says, "I have not lost one of those you gave me."  I do not understand this.  I am confused as to what he is talking about.

In this psalm, David is praising God for all he has done for him.  He speaks of all the situations that God has been with him.

Julie

I think that goes back to John 17 where he is praying and telling God that he has not lost one of his followers. So he is asking the men arresting him to let the disciples go in order to make sure that he has fulfilled what he had told God. I believe that is what is going on there. One thing that kinda gets me here is at the end where Pilate is giving them the option of whom they want released and they choose a criminal instead of Jesus who has not done anything wrong. This seems similar to how people have been reacting about criminals and wanting them released from jail, but they are wanting people who have not really done anything worthy of jail put in jail...it's so backwards. 

This is a great example of what we should be doing in praising God for all he does.

Day 575 - John 17 & Psalm 17

 Michelle

Jesus is praying in this reading.  He prays that God will glorify him in order for God to be glorified.  He prays for his disciples that they will be protected from evil and carry on his work.  He also speaks to his leaving the world.  He then prays for all believers that they will continue to glorify God.  As I was reading this I wondered why he wasn't in the world longer to bring more people to God.  I'm sure there is a reason, but I am not seeing it at this point.  It made me wonder at that time, how many people were actually in the world at that time, that it didn't require him here any longer.  But I am assuming that he completed the work God had sent him for and that was it.  It just lead to questions.

David is praying to be vindicated and explains how he has been true to God.  He then asks for God to answer him and show him the wonders of his love.  

Julie

The questions you are raise are interesting. I hadn't really thought about it like that. I found this to be such a beautiful prayer. He was praying for his disciples, but also for us. What kind of strength does it take for someone to give like that and knowing that they are going to die for us. 

That was my take on that reading as well.

Day 574 - John 16 & Psalm 16

 Michelle

This reading talks about the disciples grief over Jesus leaving them.  He tells them that they will grieve and then find joy when they see him again.  The  disciples say that they now understand because Jesus is speaking clearly to them.  He tells them that he wants them to have peace, that in the world there will be trouble, but to take heart because he has overcome the world.

The part that stands out in this psalm is, "I keep my eyes on the Lord, with him at my right hand I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices...You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence...".  Keep our eyes on the Lord and he will show us the way.  Seems a good prayer for guidance and direction.

Julie

It's hard to imagine what this might have been like. To know that he was going to be leaving but not understanding why. They still wanted to fight for him and he had to continuously tell them not to. We are just the recipients of the life he gave up to save us and they got to watch it all play out.

I think the final verse also speaks loudly, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are the pleasures forevermore."

Day 574 - John 14-15 & Psalm 15

 Michelle

So this reading talks about Jesus comforting his disciples and sharing with them the way to God.  He talks about the holy spirit and how they should be like the vine, bearing fruit.  This is all familiar to me.  These are stories we have heard for as long as I can remember.  Jesus' teaching have been handed down and taught over and over.  It also bleeds into leadership training and why it's important to be a servant leader.  

This psalm basically tells us how to live so that we won't be shaken, or the way to righteousness.  This seems to be challenging for some, myself included at times.  These are things that make us stop and think.  Are we living this way?

Julie

These are so telling...and it's interesting how the disciples still question even though he has repeatedly told them he is the Father. I know that it took me a long to to truly understand that Jesus and God are one in the same. I think that is someplace where people get lost and don't understand. 

I think we are all guilty of falling and sometimes not living this way. However, we should be trying to live this way and I think that if we are making that effort we are forgiven for the moments where we might lose sight of what we should be doing.

Day 573 - John 13 & Psalm 14

 Michelle

In this reading, Jesus washes his disciples feet, predicts his betrayal, and reveals the person that will betray him.  We have read these in previous books.  For some reason, there are parts of this that seem confusing.   It's hard to understand what Jesus is telling them in some parts.  But I think the gist is that if we follow him or believe in him, we believe in God and will be saved or will meet him at the end.

This psalm seems to be speaking to times now.  

Julie

Love each other as I have loved you. The most important commandment...the one that people have the biggest problem with. When he is washing their feet he is showing them that those that are considered the "master" or higher up than others is no better than those that are below them. Everyone is equal and no one should be treated as less than...

I pray God is handling these things now.

Day 572 - John 12.37-50 & Psalm 13

 Michelle

This reading is about the belief and unbelief among the Jews.  There were still so many that even after seeing all that he did, they still did not believe.   So really nothing was going to get them to believe.  But there were others who believed but didn't want to acknowledge it for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.  It says they were more concerned with human praise than praise from God.  Jesus goes on to tell them that he came not to judge, but to save the world and that whatever he says is from God, so if they don't believe him then they don't believe God.  I think too often we can fall into this trap where we are more concerned with the thoughts of those around us than with what God would think.  It's a call to make sure we are focused on God's grace and mercy and repentance to him, than what people are thinking.

David is asking God why he is forgotten and how long he will wrestle with his thoughts and have sorrow in his heart.  I think these are things we do to ourselves.  At the end it says that he trusts in God's unfailing love and he will sing God's praise.  We need to make sure we are not doing this as well.  Too often, this is my struggle.  My thoughts turn on me and it's usually of my own making, although I often don't know how I ended up in them.  I need to remember to turn to God in every thought.

Julie

That is so true. We are often more concerned about what those around us think that we make choices that are not in line with our walk with God. It's the place that a lot of people live their lives. 

I think this shows that even though he was considered a righteous man even David questioned the faithfulness of God from time to time. He is just as guilty as we are of letting our thoughts overpower the love of God.

Day 571 - John 12.1-36 - Psalm 12

 Michelle

Most of this chapter is stories we have heard in the last few books, but from a different perspective it seems.  The way they are told here you can tell there are a few different details.  When we read about Jesus riding the donkey before, I don't recall Lazarus being mentioned.  

I feel like I have read this psalm recently.  But the part that stands out is the end about how the Lord will keep the needy safe, while the wicked strut freely while what is vile is honored by the human race.  Either I read this one too early, or it's being written about again.  It seems to be recognizant of current times.

Julie

I think this is really the first time that Lazarus is mentioned. I don't recall any of the prior books mentioning him. This is yet another plea from Jesus for them to believe.

It does feel like he is talking about now. I feel like we should ask to be guarded from this generation and there is a lot of wickedness and vileness going on in the world right now.