John 19:1-16 Backtracking – a chronological error… Today’s reading should have been scheduled before yesterday’s. These first 16 verses in John 19 follow completely from the last dozen verses in John 18. A few days ago I commented on how Luke’s account of Jesus’ trial differed from the other Synoptic writers. One item I mentioned …
Author Archives: Fred
June 17 / Matt. 27:27-44
Matthew 27:27-44 I am struck by the inhumanity, the brutality that we read about in today’s reading. First it’s the soldiers, following the scourging continuing to taunt Jesus with the purple robe and the reed, the crown of thorns, kneeling before Him, spitting, mocking. Then it’s the crowd, the passers-by with their taunts. Finally, and …
June 16 / John 18:28-40
John 18:28-40 John’s gospel has the most complete account of Jesus before Pilate. In fact, after today’s 13 verses, there are another 16 verses in the next chapter dealing with Jesus and Pilate together. That will be Friday’s reading. I mentioned a few day ago about Pilate telling the Jewish leaders three times that he …
June 15 / Mark 15:1-20
Mark 15:1-20 I am not a person who suffers pain well. But as horrible as the crucifixion was, I am equally troubled at the scourging that Jesus received from the Roman cohort. A scourging with a leather whip would have been trouble enough, but these whips (according to my Study Bible) had bits of bone …
June 14 / Luke 23:1-25
Luke 23:1-25 So often the Synoptic gospels are very similar, with even sentences and paragraphs repeated almost verbatim. But today Luke is very different from Matthew (yesterday’s reading) or Mark (tomorrow’s reading) and even John (two days from today). Luke has Jesus appearing before Herod, unlike any of the other writers. All of the other …
June 13 / Matt. 27:1-26
Matthew 27:1-26 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (v. 5) Through all our reflections and discussions on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, today’s reading (to me) clarifies Judas’ actions. It looks like Judas was simply a mercenary looking for an opportunity to earn some …
June 12 / Luke 22:54-71
Luke 22:54-71 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (v. 61a) This verse has always struck me. Recall from yesterday that Mark had Peter moving from the courtyard to the forecourt (porch), closer to where Jesus was inside. Now being closer, there’s a turn of events that Peter had not anticipated. He is now …
June 11 / Mark 14:53-72
Mark 14:53-72 Regularly I try to put myself into the story and to visualize the words and actions that I am reading. In today’s reading we have Peter following Jesus …at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. (v.54b) …
June 10 / Matt. 26:57-75
Matthew 26:57-75 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Although you may be thinking that I am quoting from today’s reading, I am actually quoting John 2:19. In today’s verse 61 it’s actually two witnesses who testify to this statement against Jesus. But they were not false …
June 9 / John 18:1-27
John 18:1-27 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest… (v. 15a) I keep wondering about this disciple “known to the high priest”. I commented below that many (most?) scholars presume that it was John, the Gospel author. I commented on this item (below) in …