Category: Scripture

John 19:26-20:10

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus¹ by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds² in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

The Resurrection

20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’³ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Footnotes

[1] 19:39 Greek him

[2] 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

[3] 20:7 Greek his

(ESV)

Matthew 17:1-9

The Transfiguration

17:1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,¹ with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Footnotes

[1] 17:5 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

(ESV)

Matthew 10

The Twelve Apostles

10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;¹ 4 Simon the Zealot,² and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’³ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,⁴ cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics⁵ or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant⁶ above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign⁷ those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.⁸ 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?⁹ And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Footnotes

[1] 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus

[2] 10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot

[3] 10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near

[4] 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

[5] 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

[6] 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25

[7] 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign

[8] 10:28 Greek Gehenna

[9] 10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)

(ESV)

Simon Peter 7.13.24

Who was Peter?

• Peter was originally named Simon. 
• Simon was originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and lived in Capernaum (Mark 1:29).
• He was married (1 Corinthians 9:5). 
• He ran a fishing business with James and John (Luke 5:10). 
• Simon met Jesus through his brother, Andrew.
• Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gave him a new name: Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), which means “rock” (John 1:40-42). 
• Later, Jesus officially called Peter to follow Him, producing a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-7). Immediately following this, Peter left everything behind to follow the Lord (verse 11).
• For the next three years, Peter lived as a disciple of the Lord Jesus. 
• Being a natural-born leader, Peter became the unofficial spokesman for the Twelve (Matthew 15:15, 18:21, 19:27; Mark 11:21; Luke 8:45, 12:41; John 6:68, 13:6-9, 36). 
• It was Peter who first confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). 
• Peter was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, along with James and John. 
• Only those three were present when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-2). 
• Peter and John were given the special task of preparing the final Passover meal (Luke 22:8).
• Peter was enthusiastic, faithful, strong-willed, impulsive, and, at times, brash. 
• For example, it was Peter who left the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29).
• It was Peter who took Jesus aside to rebuke Him for speaking of His death (Matthew 16:22).
• It was Peter who drew his sword and attacked the servant of the high priest in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10).
• It was Peter who boasted that he would never forsake the Lord, even if everyone else did (Matthew 26:33-35), and then later denied three times that he even knew the Lord (verses 69-74). 
• Jesus made a special point of forgiving and restoring Peter and recommissioning him as an apostle (John 21:6-7, 15-17).
• Through all of Peter’s ups and downs, the Lord Jesus remained his loving Lord and faithful guide. Jesus told Peter that he would be instrumental in establishing Jesus’ Church (Matthew 16:18-19). 
• At Pentecost, Peter was the main preacher to the crowd in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14), and the New Testament Church began with an influx of about 3,000 new believers that were saved that day (verse 41). 
• Later, Peter healed a lame beggar (Acts 3:2-8) and preached boldly before the high ranking Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22). 
• Even imprisonment, beatings, and threats could not dampen Peter’s resolve to preach the risen Christ (Acts 5). 
• Peter struggled in the area of his bias for the Jews and his favoritism toward those he was with at the time. Thankfully, he showed growth and repentance upon brotherly rebuke and correction. (Acts 15:7-11; Galatians 2:11-14).
• Later in life, Peter spent time with John Mark (1 Peter 5:13), who, with some of Peter’s insights, wrote the gospel of Mark.
• Peter wrote 1 Peter and 2 Peter, likely between A.D. 60 and 68. 
• The prophecy of Christ, that Peter would die a martyr’s death (John 21:18-19), came true, as he was killed for his faith.

Peter’s Faith and Struggles

Matthew 14:25-33

In our Matthew 14 text on Monday, we read the account of Jesus walking on water when Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come to Him on the water. When Jesus did, Peter climbed over the side and began to walk on the water toward Him. I want you to realize that the storm and the wind were still raging, but Peter’s faith in Jesus gave him a confidence to trust Him to do the unthinkable. 

Consider with me, for a moment, the disciples who had stayed in the boat. What caused them to stay in the boat and not follow Peter out onto the water? Answer: to them, the boat was safer. They trusted the craftsmanship of the boat more than the power of Jesus. Are you trusting more in your manmade boats than in Jesus?

The question is this: What is your “boat” in your life? What is the thing you rely on to weather life’s storms? For you it might be a relationship, or it might be your job or money, or it might be your addiction (internet, drugs, eating, TV) that you look to for your identity, personal significance, sense of security, purpose for living, and happiness. 

Essentially, these things become the functional “boat” in which you put your trust. I know many “Christians” who think their trust is in Jesus, but when the storms of life rage, their trust is in a functional savior and not in the one, true Savior. Your “boat” is something that has become more fundamental than God in your life for your identity, personal significance, sense of security, purpose for living, and joy. Instead, we must trust in Jesus—not ourselves, not our functional boats—Jesus!

Matthew 14:29-31 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Peter, with the power of Jesus at work, was able to successfully walk on the water. This is incredible!

In Christ, we can, and will, do things we could never do on our own. But the reality is, the storms still rage. This world is still fallen in sin, and God is still redeeming and working out His plan of redemption while we testify of the gospel and make disciples. 

The temptations constantly before us are the plentiful distractions of this world vying for our focus. The problem is, when we put our focus on temporary things, we take our eyes off of Jesus. I ask you plainly today: Where is your focus? When the storms come, do you focus on Jesus, or do you put your focus on the storms?

Peter modeled this for us—it’s a focus thing, a forward thing! When he focused on the problem, the storm, he forgot to stay focused on the solution—Jesus!

When we focus on the temporary troubles of today, we forget that we have a God that is with us and is ultimately the One who holds all things in His hands—even the storms.

When Peter stepped out of the boat, the storm was already raging. In that moment, his faith and focus were on Christ who was his power and hope. 

This shows us that on our own, we will not endure the race before us. We will rely on our own power; we will place our hope in our circumstances, and we will hope our circumstances will change or that we can change them. We will not place our hope and trust in our God who remains constant despite our circumstances. 

One of my favorite passages in the New Testament helps us with this. I’ll highlight a little from the NLT.

Hebrews 12:1 … And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.

I love the words to the old hymn that go like this: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Read again Matthew 26:30-75.

Peter’s struggles were put on display, exponentially, the night Jesus was arrested. While the Jewish trials were taking place, Peter found his way to the house of the high priest and was waiting with others outside in the courtyard. They were awaiting the verdict in much the same way you or I would gather with others around a TV. 

I can only imagine the conversation taking place about this historical event. Imagine their speculation about what was going on and what might happen to Jesus. What a prime moment for Peter to defend his friend. But, he didn’t; he decided to save his own hide instead. 

Read again Matthew 26:69-75. 

There is no greater betrayal than to be so very close to someone and then to not acknowledge that you even know him. Many of you know what it is like to experience great betrayal. We can be confident that Jesus sympathizes with us when we go through this, because He, too, experienced deep betrayal by His best friends. 

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

While many of us can relate, in this story, to Jesus and the pain we feel when betrayed by someone we love, you might be feeling like you relate more to Peter as the betrayer. Thank God for grace, forgiveness, and restoration. Thank God that He pursues us when we don’t deserve it. He paid the high price for our betrayal against a holy God. He restores us to walk in the newness of life and to live for Him, just like He did for Peter. Look at our next passage we read this week.

John 21:7-25

Jesus sought Peter out and led him through his restoration. Three times Peter confirmed his love for Jesus. Jesus commissioned Peter to feed His sheep. And oh, did Peter go on to preach! The man that was once timid and constantly messing up was redeemed and empowered to be a leader in the early church and to be someone God would work through to do mighty things. 

We must remember that although we mess up greatly at times, God is able to restore and sanctify us in mighty ways. 

By His grace and for His glory

Joshua “Shepherd” Kirstine

Soldiers For Jesus MC

Chaplain Council

SFJbible.com

Acts 4:1-33

Peter and John Before the Council

4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus¹ is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.² 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men³ by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,⁴ said by the Holy Spirit,

  “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26   The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’⁵—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Footnotes

[1] 4:11 Greek This one

[2] 4:11 Greek the head of the corner

[3] 4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women

[4] 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30

[5] 4:26 Or Christ

(ESV)