December 2019 Readings

Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Dec Matt. 27:32-44 13 02-Dec Mark 15:21-32 12 03-Dec Luke 23:26-43 18 04-Dec John 19:17-27 11 05-Dec Matt. 27:45-56 12 06-Dec Mark 15:33-41 9 07-Dec Luke 23:44-49 6 08-Dec John 19:28-30 3 09-Dec John 19:31-37 7 10-Dec Matt. 27:57-66 10 11-Dec Mark 15:42-47 6 12-Dec Luke 23:50-56 7 13-Dec John 19:38-42 5 …

November 30 / John 19:1-16

John 19:1-16 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Jesus speaking: Therefore he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin. (v. 11b) This verse always confused me. My first confusion (common for me in John’s gospel) is about how Jesus was responding to Pilate’s question: Do you …

November 29 / Mark 15:16-20

Mark 15:16-20 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” I am amazed at Jesus’ strength – both His body and His character. First, bodily… As with yesterday, today we again have Him in the Praetorium being tortured and taunted by the Roman soldiers. He has already suffered a scourging, in …

November 28 / Matt. 27:27-31

Matthew 27:27-31 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Previously in Matthew 27:26 we saw that Pilate had had Jesus scourged. Now on Thanksgiving Day we read this horrible account of Pilate’s soldiers torturing and taunting Him further. It’s a horrible reflection for such a special holiday – as we …

November 27 / John 18:28-40

John 18:28-40 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” (v. 31) It must have been frustrating to the Jewish leaders …

November 26 / Mark 15:1-15

Mark 15:1-15 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. (v. 5) My Study Bible pointed out that under Roman law an accused prisoner was automatically guilty if he did not reply to an accusation. So Pilate’s amazement was likely …

November 25 / Luke 23:13-25

Luke 23:13-25 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” I imagine it was not difficult for the Jewish leaders to incite the crowd to have Barabbas released, a man charged with insurrection and murder. What might the insurrection have been about? I’m guessing against the occupation by the Roman authorities. …

November 24 / Matt. 27:15-26

Matthew 27:15-26 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (v. 20) I have heard it said that the Jewish leaders had put together “their own crowd” and persuaded them to ask for Barabbas. …

November 23 / Luke 23:1-12

Luke 23:1-12 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Jesus before Pilate and Herod… It’s funny to me – and probably to many of you – that when we think of Herod, we think of <insert accompanying music> “So you are the Christ, you’re the great Jesus Christ. Prove to …

November 22 / Matt. 27:1-14

Matthew 27:1-14 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Judas: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (v. 4) Again, my sympathies for Judas… Is Judas’ quote a confession, a sign of true repentance? Did he get that part right before deciding his own fate a few hours later? I …