Category: Daily Prayer

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:1-11

This isn’t the celebration we expected. If you asked me after Christmas what was planned for Palm Sunday I would have told you a children’s procession waiving palm branches, confirming our new group of members and a dinner following the service. All that seems very far away now as we stay in our homes and things are closed to prevent the spread of disease. I certainly didn’t intend to preach to an empty sanctuary for Palm Sunday and Easter!

Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem wasn’t what people expected either. Yes, they welcomed Him with glad shouts and pageantry, but the thought “where is the crown and sword and the armies that Messiah will lead to free us?” was in the back of their minds. Often our desires for a particular situation or solution is not what God has planned for us.

We need to accept God’s way and the leadership of love and peace Jesus brings us all. We must let go of our grasping for control of worldly things and focus on the eternal gift Jesus offers. Only then will be able to truly celebrate as the children of the King.

Loving Lord, we are guilty of wanting things our own way. Help us to see that the path You call us to follow is the only way to be saved. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (also known as Didymus ) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
John 11:1-45

This familiar story shows us the power and compassion of Jesus. It is easy to see both of these, but we must understand the meaning as Jesus intends. This passage teaches us about His faith and His connection to God.

First, we must understand that Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus as a personal favor to His friends, even though He loved them all dearly. Jesus tells us plainly that His actions are for “the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (verse 42). It is by God’s will that this happens, not by Jesus’ own choice.

Second, and perhaps more difficult for us to understand, Jesus may have wanted desperately to go and prevent Lazarus from dying, but as we heard previously, God had a different plan. Jesus was obedient, even unto death for Himself, but the death of His friend was obviously emotional for Him, even though He knew God would use this to reach many others. Jesus teaches us that even when it is difficult, we must believe as we pray “Thy will be done”.

Heavenly Father, our thoughts and actions so often are only to please ourselves or to please others for our own gain. Help us to see the truth You send us, that our faith in Christ and obedience to Your will is the way to salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

John 11:38-45

Jesus raised Lazarus not as a favor to a friend, not to relieve Mary and Martha’s grief, and certainly not to just impress people with His power. He tells those assembled “if you believe you will see the glory of God” (verse 40). Pointing people to God has always been His purpose.

Throughout His ministry Jesus teaches how we can be connected to God. He tells us “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). His miracles are not for His own glory, but to show us we can have that same relationship by believing in Him.

Our faith in Him is not intended to put us above others, but rather to make us all part of the whole we were created to be. All of His lessons and actions are part of God’s plan to reunite us as brothers and sisters under His care. Our task is to listen, learn and obey His call to reach out to all people in His name.

Gracious God, we are awed by the power displayed in Jesus’ works. Help us to see that these miracles are the promise of Your love for us and the blessing of salvation that can be ours through our faith in Him. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
John 11:32-37

Jesus has displayed His divinity in the healing miracles He performed. Here Jesus displays His humanity, weeping at the grave of His friend Lazarus. Both Martha and Mary have said “if you had been here, he would not have died”, which must only add to His grief.

Martha testifies to her belief that her brother will be raised with the saints, but she still grieves for the loss of his earthly presence. Even though Jesus knows He has come to raise Lazarus from the dead, He too grieves with them. Jesus shows us that grief is a normal human emotion, one we should not be crushed by, but also one not to be dismissed lightly.

We know we can share all our feelings with Jesus, even our deepest grief, because He knows exactly how we feel. Part of His glory is that He was willing to come to be with us and suffer as we do, to say “I have been where you are”. Give all your cares to Him, and He will give you rest.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your coming to be with us, to be one of us, and to show us how to live in connection with You. Help us when we are overcome by sadness to know You are there for us, even in grief and death. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. John 11:23-31

In this exchange between Martha and Jesus, He tells her plainly “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”. He then asks if she believes this and she confesses her faith in Him as the Messiah. This is a conversation everyone must have with Jesus.

Jesus calls each of us to a relationship with Him, and through this connection we can know the salvation of the Lord. He offers us the gift of being named the children of God and the charge to live according to His commands. In this passage, Jesus calls Martha to believe in Him and to know that death is not the final word of our existence.

We must renew our commitment to Jesus daily, offering Him our very best, no matter what circumstances we face. Our faith in Him will lead and comfort us always. Give Him your fears, He will give you His strength.

Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Your son to guard and guide us. May we always trust in Your love and care, sharing our certainty in a broken world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Then Thomas (also known as Didymus ) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
John 11:16-22

Thomas, most remembered for asking proof of Christ after the resurrection, shows his loyalty to Jesus by encouraging the disciples “let us also go, that we may die with Him”. Following Jesus was never easy but now they are faced with returning to an area where they had recently been threatened with harm or death. It shows what Jesus is willing to do for those He loves – all of us – as well as what He calls His followers to risk for their faith.

Jesus knew that Mary and Martha needed His love and care most desperately after the death of their brother. Even though it was dangerous to go to Bethany, Jesus and the disciples went out of their love for their friends. Jesus calls us to “live dangerously” to support those around us, not acting in an unsafe manner perhaps, but putting the welfare of our neighbors above our own.

What are we willing to risk for God and our neighbors? Even when it’s not convenient, even when it’s uncomfortable, God calls us to minister to those around us. He was willing to give Himself for us, we must be ready to do so as well.

Loving Lord, we are often selfish with our time and money, afraid or unwilling to share for fear there won’t be enough. Help us to see that by sharing our blessings, we can be blessed beyond anything we can comprehend. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:8-15

I wonder if perhaps, just for a short time, Jesus felt guilty about not being there for Lazarus. We know Jesus was as human as we, and felt all the same emotions. Even though Jesus knew He was going to “wake him up” it must have been a little difficult.

Jesus is showing us that in doing what we are called for, there will be things we are unable to do. Sometimes I call these Mutually Exclusive Double Overlapping Obligations. We all know the feeling of being busy, of being pulled in multiple directions by the things we do. Jesus understood this, but He shows us that obedience to God is our primary duty.

Jesus followed the instruction He had from God first and then went to His friend. We can’t do everything, we are bound by our resources and our human limitations. However, when we obey God our efforts can be multiplied, and by doing His will we are blessed.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the call You place on our lives, the gifts to do those tasks and the joy it brings. Help us to be faithful and energetic servants of Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
John 11:1-7

We may forget that Jesus had friends outside the circle of Peter, John and James and the other disciples. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were the closest to Him, offering their home to Jesus and the disciples when they passed that way. It is not surprising that the sisters would send a message to Jesus to let Him know that Lazarus was sick.

Jesus saw even the illness of His friend as an opportunity to give glory to God, that through His action on earth people could come to know God’s love. However, He knew that He had been sent for a specific purpose, and continued His work for two more days before turning toward Judea. He was so focused on His mission for God that nothing would distract Him.

During the current pandemic, we see the same selfless devotion from people who are doing God’s work to halt the spread of the infection, often at the expense of time with their families and their personal well-being. May we understand their call to service and do all we can to support them and those they leave at home daily for the good of our communities. God has called us all to a purpose on earth, but none more important than our care for each other.

Gracious God, we thank You for the special love given to us to share with others. Help us in this time to serve with care and courage, doing all we can for Your children in need. Amen.