2020 for JESUS - Day 108: JESUS is BLESSED... COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD... THE KING OF ISRAEL... KING...

 

John 12:12-19

"On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that JESUS was coming to Jerusalem, 

13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet HIM, and began to shout, 

'Hosanna! BLESSED is HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even THE KING OF ISRAEL.' 

14 JESUS, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 

15 'Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your KING is coming, 

seated on a donkey's colt.'

16 These things HIS disciples did not understand at the first; 

but when JESUS was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of HIM, and that they had done these things to HIM. 

17 So the people, who were with HIM when HE called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about HIM. 

18 For this reason also the people went and met HIM, because they heard that HE had performed this sign. 

19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after HIM.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 107: JESUS is WORTHY...

John 12:1-11

"JESUS, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom JESUS had raised from the dead. 

2 So they made HIM a supper there, and Martha was serving; 

but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with HIM. 

3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, 

and anointed the feet of JESUS and wiped HIS feet with her hair; 

and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of HIS disciples, who was intending to betray HIM, said, 

5 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?'

6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, 

but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, 

he used to pilfer what was put into it. 

7 Therefore JESUS said, 

'Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of MY burial. 

8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have ME.'

9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that HE was there; 

and they came, not for JESUS’ sake only, 

but that they might also see Lazarus, whom HE raised from the dead. 

10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; 

11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away 

and were believing in JESUS."

Note:  Mary knew that JESUS was WORTHY before John wrote this in Revelation...

Revelation 4:11
“WORTHY are YOU, OUR LORD AND OUR GOD, to receive glory and honor and power; for YOU CREATED ALL THINGS, and because of YOUR will they existed, and were created.”

Revelation 5:12
“WORTHY is THE LAMB that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 106: JESUS is HIGH PRIEST... GREAT HIGH PRIEST... THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST...

When I read John 11, my mind goes to Hebrews, where it talks about WHO our HIGH PRIEST is.  I'll share some of those verses from Hebrews here before today's reading in John 11:

Hebrews 2:17  "Therefore, HE had to be made like HIS brethren in all things, so that HE might become a merciful and faithful HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to GOD, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Hebrews 3:1 "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider JESUS, THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST of our confession..."

Hebrews 4:14-15 "Therefore, since we have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST who has passed through the heavens, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a HIGH PRIEST who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."

Hebrews 7:26-28  "For it was fitting for us to have such a HIGH PRIEST,

•  HOLY, 
• INNOCENT, 
• UNDEFILED, 
• SEPARATED FROM SINNERS AND EXALTED ABOVE THE HEAVENS;  
• who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for HIS own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this HE did once for all when HE offered up HIMSELF.  For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a SON, made perfect forever."

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John 11:47-57

47 "Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, 

'What are we doing? For THIS MAN is performing many signs. 

48 If we let HIM go on like this, all men will believe in HIM, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.'

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 

'You know nothing at all, 

50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.'

51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that JESUS was going to die for the nation, 

52 and not for the nation only, but in order that HE might also gather together into one the children of GOD who are scattered abroad. 

53 So from that day on they planned together to kill HIM.

54 Therefore JESUS no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there HE stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. 

56 So they were seeking for JESUS, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, 

'What do you think; that HE will not come to the feast at all?' 

57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where HE was, he was to report it, so that they might seize HIM.

2020 for JESUS - Day 105: JESUS is FORGIVING...

One year ago today, 

my husband and I were in a snow storm,

in Chicago traffic, on a Sunday morning.

A car passed us, on the right,
with the license plate - PSALM32.
I pulled out my Bible app to see what it said...
it started this way...
"How blessed is the one 

whose transgression is forgiven, 

whose sin is covered!" 

A few minutes after reading Psalm 32
we were hit by another car and our car was totaled.  

Our injuries could have been a lot worse!

Yet, I was angry at the other driver...

How could he?!!?!??

When our car stopped, it was facing this sign.  

The scripture reference, in the bottom right hand corner,

 reminded us to be like JESUS in how we forgive...

forgive even the guy who hit us!

Today, as we strive to keep our eyes on JESUS,

let's focus on these words in Luke 23:34 - 

But JESUS was saying, 

“FATHER, forgive them; 

for they do not know what they are doing.” 

And they cast lots, 

dividing up HIS garments among themselves.

2020 for JESUS - Day 104: JESUS is THE LORD... LORD... GLORY OF GOD... THE SON OF GOD... RABBI...

Yesterday, we stepped out of chapter order in our readings and read John 18-20, in honor of the death, burial, and resurrection of JESUS.  Today, we will return to John 11 and read about JESUS and the death and resurrection of Lazarus...

11 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 

2 It was the Mary who anointed THE LORD with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 

3 So the sisters sent word to HIM, saying, 

“LORD, behold, he whom YOU love is sick.” 

4 But when JESUS heard this, HE said, 

“This sickness is not to end in death, but for the GLORY OF GOD, 

so that THE SON OF GOD may be glorified by it.” 

5 Now JESUS loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 

6 So when HE heard that he was sick, HE then stayed two days longer in the place where HE was. 

7 Then after this HE said to the disciples, 

“Let us go to Judea again.” 

8 The disciples said to HIM, 

“RABBI, the Jews were just now seeking to stone YOU, 

and are YOU going there again?”

 9 JESUS answered, 

“Are there not twelve hours in the day? 

If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, 

because he sees the light of this world. 

10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, 

because the light is not in him.” 

11 This HE said, and after that HE said to them, 

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; 

but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 

12 The disciples then said to HIM, 

“LORD, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 

13 Now JESUS had spoken of his death, 

but they thought that HE was speaking of literal sleep. 

14 So JESUS then said to them plainly, 

“Lazarus is dead, 

15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, 

so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 

16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, 

“Let us also go, so that we may die with HIM.”

17 So when JESUS came, HE found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 

18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; 

19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 

20 Martha therefore, when she heard that JESUS was coming, went to meet HIM, but Mary stayed at the house. 

21 Martha then said to JESUS, 

“LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 

22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of GOD, GOD will give You.” 

23 JESUS said to her, 

“Your brother will rise again.” 

24 Martha said to Him, 

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 

25 JESUS said to her, 

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; 

he who believes in ME will live even if he dies, 

26 and everyone who lives and believes in ME will never die. 

Do you believe this?” 

27 She said to HIM, 

“Yes, LORD; I have believed that YOU are THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, 

even HE who comes into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, 

“THE TEACHER is here and is calling for you.” 

29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to HIM.

30 Now JESUS had not yet come into the village, 

but was still in the place where Martha met HIM. 

31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, 

when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 

32 Therefore, when Mary came where JESUS was, she saw HIM, 

and fell at HIS feet, saying to HIM, 

“LORD, if YOU had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

33 When JESUS therefore saw her weeping, 

and the Jews who came with her also weeping, 

HE was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 

34 and said, 

“Where have you laid him?” 

They said to HIM, 

“LORD, come and see.” 

35 JESUS wept. 

36 So the Jews were saying, 

“See how HE loved him!” 

37 But some of them said, 

“Could not THIS MAN, who opened the eyes of the blind man, 

have kept this man also from dying?”

38 So JESUS, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. 

Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 

39 JESUS said, 

“Remove the stone.” 

Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, 

“Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 

40 JESUS said to her, 

“Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see THE GLORY OF GOD?” 

41 So they removed the stone. Then JESUS raised HIS eyes, and said, 

“FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU have heard ME. 

42 I knew that YOU always hear ME; 

but because of the people standing around I said it, 

so that they may believe that YOU sent ME.” 

43 When HE had said these things, HE cried out with a loud voice, 

“Lazarus, come forth.” 

44 The man who had died came forth, 

bound hand and foot with wrappings, 

and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. 

JESUS said to them, 

“Unbind him, and let him go.”

45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, 

and saw what HE had done, 

believed in HIM. 

46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which JESUS had done.