LookingtoJesus

May 20

Bible Reading: John 21:1-3

John 21:3, “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

In the nexus of monumental historical events and disastrous personal failures, Peter’s decision to go fishing is, at the very least, intriguing.  Let’s not forget where things started for Peter with Jesus.  On their first meeting, Jesus gave Peter (then called Simon) a new name (John 1:42).  On their second meeting, Jesus gave Peter a new occupation.  He had been a fisher of fish, but Jesus called him to be a fisher of men (Luke 5:10).  On that occasion, after the miraculous catch, Peter, and his friends, “left everything (to) follow him” (Luke 5:11).

A lot had transpired since that day.  Bold and impetuous Peter was often in the lead amongst the disciples.  Jesus commended Peter when he correctly identified Him to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16-17).  But then Jesus severely rebuked him when he spoke against Jesus’ pending suffering and death (Matthew 16:21-23).  Peter walked on water, only to sink when he looked away.  As the cross drew near, Peter pledged his willingness to die with Jesus.  Later, while Jesus prayed, Peter and his friends slept.  And then, following Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied Jesus three times.  Luke’s gospel recounts what happened next: “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).  One can only imagine the degree of his humiliation and guilt!

What to do when things go awry?  Go back to the things you know.  The tendency of sin is to pull us back to our old paths and old ways—to find comfort in that which is familiar. I’ve been a fisherman all my life and I’ve said it myself, “I need to go fishing!”  Peter had been a fisherman.  He no doubt loved fishing.  He was unaware of what lay on the horizon in the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost.  Furthermore, he did not know of the vast extent of Jesus’ compassion and mercy.  Peter sought comfort in what he knew, fishing, but Jesus met him there and then worked to restore him to his calling.  Jesus had big plans for Peter, and Peter’s failures (no matter how grievous) were no deterrent.

“I fear sometimes that Christians who know they have failed to love as they ought to love will drift away from the Lord, and they feel some anxiety or shame about coming back.  What they need to realize is that He is eager for them to come back.”—John MacArthur

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]

May 17

Bible Reading: John 20:30-31

John 20:30-31, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Our passage lays out the purpose statement for the gospel of John, and its relatively simple.  Jesus did many signs which attested to His true identity as “the Christ, the Son of God.”  The seven signs recorded by the Apostle John testify to that ever important truth.  But the ultimate objective lies deeper, for it was John’s desire (indeed God’s desire) that the record of what Jesus did would lead to the reader to saving faith.

She was reluctant at first to have me, the hospice chaplain, visit, but the hospice nurse made a deal with her.  What if he comes with me and if you don’t like him, then he’ll not return after that?  So, I made that first visit and made weekly visits after that.  She had never been to church or read from the Bible and had no concept of what God is like.  She asked me how anyone is to know the truth, given that there are so many different religions in the world.  She didn’t own a Bible, so I found her one; a giant print version because her eyesight wasn’t very good.  I asked her to read the gospel of John with two questions in mind: 1) Who does it say that Jesus is? And 2) What does He want for you to do?

She read through the gospel of John and kept on reading into the Book of Acts and into the epistles!  The nurse was with me the day that she prayed, expressing her faith in Jesus.  She died not too many weeks later, but she died knowing Jesus.  John wrote his gospel that people might be led like that to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Two thousand years later, it is still doing that!  Next time you encounter an unsaved person showing some interest in Jesus, challenge them to read the gospel of John with those two questions in mind.  God’s Word is powerful to save (Romans 1:16)!

“The purpose of this Gospel goes far beyond the mere creation of an opinion about is subject.  The creation of a personal faith in Christ is the summit of its purpose.” – Merrill Tenney

I BELIEVE IN JESUS AND HIS WORD
I believe in Jesus and His word,
The word of life, so sweet and free,
And that He came to manifest His love,
And by His death to ransom me.

Refrain:
O how sweet it is to sing,
I believe, I believe!
To Him alone my soul will cling;
I believe on the Son of God.

I believe in Jesus and His cross,
And in the blood so freely shed;
I know He takes away the guilt of sin,
And grants me pardon in its stead. [Refrain]

I believe in Jesus and His name,
That gives access to mercy’s throne;
No other name can satisfy my faith,
For I am saved by Him alone. [Refrain]

May 16

Bible Reading: John 20:24-29

John 20:27-29, “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

There would be no good news apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  No saving message.  No true Christianity.  No hope.  It is as the Apostle Paul put it: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

But Christ has been raised from the dead!  John chapter 20 gives the account of those first witnesses.  They saw Jesus and spoke with Him.  Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus came to them (John 20:24).  The other disciples shared the good news with Thomas, but Thomas demanded more proof: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25).  Thus, he earned the name “doubting Thomas.”

But Thomas was unknowingly fulfilling a service to us all.  Was it some other person that the disciples had seen?  After all, Mary Magdalene mistook him for the gardener (John 20:15).  Or maybe he was just an apparition of some kind?  Thomas needed proof and Jesus condescended to his demand, granting proof positive of his literal, physical resurrection.  Thomas’ experience became part of the Biblical record that has stood ever since, declaring to all the truth of the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead.  Thomas was an eyewitness to the gospel truth regarding Jesus.  We’ve not been so privileged, but we are blessed inasmuch as we’ve believed without seeing (John 20:20; 1 Peter 1:8)!  We may not have touched his wounds, but he has healed ours!

“Your faith is far stronger, and your blessing is richer, because you have believed even though you haven’t seen.” – John G. Mitchell

JESUS, THOU JOY OF LOVING HEARTS!
Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts,
Thou fount of life, Thou light of men,
from the best bliss that earth imparts,
we turn unfilled to Thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
to them that seek Thee, Thou art good,
to them that find Thee all in all.

We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread,
and long to feast upon Thee still;
we drink of Thee, the Fountain-head,
and thirst our souls from Thee to fill.

Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
where’er our changeful lot is cast;
glad when Thy gracious smile we see,
blest when our faith can hold Thee fast.

O Jesus, ever with us stay,
make all our moments calm and bright;
chase the dark night of sin away;
shed o’er the world Thy holy light.

May 15

Bible Reading: John 20:19-23

John 20:19a, “…the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.”

The religious leaders had seemingly won a victory.  They had long sought Jesus’ death, and so it came to pass.  As predicted by Jesus, His disciples had scattered from Him at His arrest.  And even while they were running for cover, the high priest questioned “Jesus about his disciples” (John 18:19).  The disciples were afraid.  They had always felt secure in the presence of Jesus.  For their troubles, He always had the answers.  He who had the power to calm the storms, exercised a calming influence in their lives.  They loved Him and trusted Him and could make no sense of what had transpired (John 20:9). 

So, the disciples sequestered themselves.  “For fear of the Jews” they shut themselves in and locked the doors (John 20:19).  One can imagine them anxiously scrutinizing every suspicious sound or activity outside their self-imposed captivity.  What were they to do?  How could they possibly escape their plight?  The sequestered disciples, in fact, had no reason to fear.  Jesus had escaped His tomb and there was no reason to entomb themselves in fear.  But they were unaware of the truth of it.  Then “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19-21).  Joy and peace vanquished trouble and fear “when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

We face all kinds of things that might work to cause us to fear.  “In the world (we) have tribulation” (John 16:33).  But in Him we can possess peace (John 16:33).  We are sometimes like those sequestered disciples, entombed by fears and all the while forgetting that He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33).  In the truth of His resurrection, there is reason for us to “take heart” (John 16:33).  Many of our fears could be alleviated if we would but remember that the Risen Christ is with us.  He stands in our midst (Revelation 1:13).  He is intimately aware of all about our troubles (Hebrews 4:15, Acts 9:4).  His power toward us is of surpassing greatness (Ephesians 1:19f).  His love for us surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).  Nothing shall separate us from it (Romans 8:35f; Hebrews 13:5).  He has opened to us the doorway to the throne of grace that we might find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  That same Risen Jesus who visited His fear-bound disciples, is alive and present with us this very day. 

Look into that empty tomb—He is not there—He has risen victorious o’er all our foes.  Look again to “his hands and his side” (John 20:20)—behold how much He cares (Romans 8:32). 

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause for fear.  His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer—His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” – John Newton

ARISE MY SOUL, ARISE
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love, His precious blood to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pard’ning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

May 14

Bible Reading: John 20:11-18

John 20:11, “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.”

One can only imagine the horror of her day-to-day existence.  It wasn’t just that she was demon possessed, but that she was possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2).  We read in the gospel accounts of the plight of others who were similarly afflicted—tormented, self-abusive, ostracized, hopeless and helpless.  The devil’s own emissaries were working to make her life as miserable as possible.  And there was absolutely nothing she could do to change all that.  But that all changed when she met Jesus.  He delivered Mary from all her demons, and she henceforth devoted herself to following and serving Him.

She was one of a group of women who ministered to Jesus and the disciples, providing for their physical needs—food and clothing and such (Luke 8:1-3).  How glad she must have been to serve the One who had set her free from tyranny.  She followed Jesus all the way to the cross (John 19:25).  She witnessed His death.  She would be the first to bear witness to His resurrection.

But in our verse, we find her weeping, not yet made aware of the joyous truth of Jesus’ resurrection.  Twice she is asked: “Woman, why are you weeping?” (John 20:13,15).  Her tears ushered forth from her broken heart, but her heart was misinformed.  Jesus was not dead, but alive!  The One who had once delivered her from the domain of darkness had Himself triumphed over death and the devil.  The empty tomb is a fountain of hope for broken hearts and teary eyes.  Jesus has won the victory over all that troubles us in this world.  Having ascended to the right hand of God, He even now intercedes on our behalf.  He’s coming again and will bring us to a place of ultimate triumph, where there will be no more tears! Some tears might very well be averted if we but turn our eyes to the One who died for our sins and rose from the dead! 

Jesus lives!  The truth of His resurrection is a fountain of hope in this sin-weary world.

HE LIVES
I serve a risen Savior, Hes in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, Hes always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
A-long lifes narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary, I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last. [Refrain]

Rejoice, Rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so living, so good and kind. [Refrain]

May 13

Bible Reading: John 20:1-10

John 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.”

Who moved the stone? English journalist Frank Morison had a desire to learn about Jesus, the uniqueness of the resurrection account having captured his attention.  Influenced by the skeptics of his day, he set out to prove that the story of Christ’s resurrection was only a myth.  His studies, however, led him to a discovery of the Biblical truth.  He wrote a book about it entitled, “Who Moved the Stone?”; a book considered by many to be a classic apologetic regarding the resurrection.

It was an enormous stone, estimated to weigh between three and four thousand pounds.  The stone was just one of the security measures Pilate had put in place.  He sent a guard (16 soldiers) to secure the tomb, instructing them to “make it as secure as (they knew) how” (Matthew 27:65).  Those Roman soldiers were proud and capable—they failed in a given task under penalty of death.  The guard set a “seal on the stone.”  The soldiers, the seal, and the stone were set in place.  They had done everything they could to make the grave secure—but how can you lock up the Creator in a cave?  The entirety of the Roman army would not have been able to keep Jesus bound in that tomb.  Mountain atop mountain would not have kept entombed He “who is the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

It was an angel of the Lord who rolled back the stone (Matthew 28:2).  He moved the stone not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in! The tomb is empty.  Jesus is alive!  He has ascended to the right hand of God.  He is the risen, reigning, and returning Lord.  His sacrifice on the cross for you is the greatest act of love ever witnessed in the history of man!  Likewise, His victory over sin and death and all the forces of evil is a universal triumph of infinite personal import to every believer! 

“It was impossible for Him to be held in (death’s) power.” – Acts 2:24

THE TOMB IS EMPTY NOW
Adieu to every fear!
The tomb is empty now!
Ye need not seek Him here!
The tomb is empty now!

Refrain:
He reigns, He reigns in Heav’n,
In Heav’n today, today;
A crown upon His brow!
His brow! The shadows flee,
The shadows flee away!
Away! The tomb is empty now!

In death He closed His eyes!
The tomb is empty now!
By faith I see Him rise!
The tomb is empty now! [Refrain]

Behold where He was laid!
The tomb is empty now!
Our debt of sin He paid!
The tomb is empty now! [Refrain]

In Him our hopes we place!
The tomb is empty now!
And we shall see His face!
The tomb is empty now! [Refrain]

May 10

Bible Reading: John 19:31-42

John 19:33-34, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.”

“On a scale of 1 to 10, what’s your pain level right now?”  They ask that question of Laura at every visit to the oncologist.  She usually says about a “four,” though it’s hard to say exactly because it’s kind of subjective.  Members of our hospice team ask the same question of our hospice patients, as pain management is a key concern in providing compassionate care.  Our nurses do a great job of finding and using the best medications in order to provide the highest level of comfort to the patient.

No one asked Jesus about His pain level when He was dying on the cross.  In fact, the point of crucifixion as punishment was to maximize pain.  It wasn’t just the pain associated with having nails driven through one’s hands and feet; it was the pain associated with the ongoing struggle to breathe. The body was situated such that the chest wall was in a permanent position of maximum respiratory inspiration.  To exhale, it was necessary to force the body upward, which was accomplished by pressing down on the nails in the feet.  As the legs became fatigued, breathing became increasingly more difficult.  And the heart and organs suffered for it.

Jesus did not die like the others.  He and the two thieves had been on their respective crosses for the same period.  At the close of day, the two thieves were still alive.  So, the soldiers came and broke their legs.  But when they found that Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs (John 19:33).  Instead, they pierced His side with a spear, the blood and water bearing witness to the reality of His death (John 19:34).  That they did not break His legs fulfilled the prophecy, “Not one of his bones will be broken” (Psalm 34:20).  He died on His terms. His life was not taken from Him. When the time came, “He gave up His spirit” (Matthew 27:52; John 10:17-18).

Jesus experienced unimaginable pain on the cross, especially in bearing the sins of us all.  He even refused the wine mixed with gall that would have dampened his pain (Matthew 27:34).  We also experience pain, sometimes quite severe, which we try to avoid at all costs. But Jesus embraced the pain and suffering on the cross willingly.  He did that to save us from our sins and bring us one day to a place where there will be “no more pain” (Revelation 21:4).  “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”

Jesus willingly embraced unimaginable pain on the cross so that He could bring us to a place where pain will be no more.

HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR!
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

May 9

Bible Reading: John 19:25-30

John 19:26-27, “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’”

My mom, Marlene, died 21 years ago after a months-long battle with an aggressive cancer.  She died trusting Jesus, for which I’m extremely grateful.  Before she died, she had some last words for all us children and for her grandchildren as well.  We rightly count the last words of a person as precious because pending death refines one’s words, reflecting their character and deepest thoughts.

Jesus shared some last words with us all, in what is commonly referred to as His “seven sayings from the cross.”  Here in John chapter 19, we find three “sayings” recorded.  But it is best to consider them all and in their chronological order.    

• “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
• “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
• “Woman, behold, your son” … “Behold, your mother” (John 19:25–27)!
• “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)?
• “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).
• “It is finished” (John 19:30).
• “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).

So, what do we find in these last words of Jesus?  There are words of distress and even agony, especially as He experienced the Father’s wrath in bearing our sins.  And there are words of love in expressing forgiveness to all and in His compassionate concern for His mother.  Jesus spoke hope-filled words to the repentant thief and as He committed His spirit to the Father.  He also spoke those three triumphant words, “It is finished,” which birthed the good news of salvation in His finished work on the cross. 

What you won’t find are expressions of anxiety or anger or any derogatory statements of any kind.  This although He was being unjustly punished and subjected to the mockery and taunts of those around Him.  And in that He’s left us an example, even as Peter drew attention to Jesus’ last words and exhorted us to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21-23).  Jesus is the best example for us in every virtuous way, and we do well to consider what He had to say as He was confronting death, as His last words speak to the glory of who He is.

He that was full of grace and truth spoke that way as He died on the cross! 

NEAR THE CROSS
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain—
Free to all, a healing stream—
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and Mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

May 8

Bible Reading: John 19:23-24

John 19:24, “This was to fulfill the Scripture.” (19:28, 19:36, 19:37)

In April 2024, an Oregonian won the $1.3 billion Powerball lottery.  Officials noted that the odds of winning that lottery were about one in 292 million.  Pretty steep odds, right?  Did you know that there were over 300 prophecies about Christ given in the Old Testament.  All the prophecies were given at least 400 years before he was born and some thousands of years before.  He fulfilled thirty-three prophecies on the day of his crucifixion, with several of them being referenced in this chapter in John.  The odds of any random person fulfilling all those prophecies were astronomical!

Jesus spoke of how He came to fulfill the Scriptures.  He chided the religious leaders, saying: “You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).  And likewise says: “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”  Even after his resurrection, Jesus directed his disciples back to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies to encourage their faith (Luke 24:25-27).  The fulfillment of prophecy testifies to the truth that Jesus is who He declared and revealed Himself to be (John 20:30-31).

So, if the odds of winning the $1.3 billion dollar lottery were one in 292 million, what would have been the odds that any anonymous person would fulfill all the prophecies regarding the Christ? Professor Peter W. Stoner states that the probability of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in one person is 1 x 10 17th. That is 100,000,000,000,000,000! It has been illustrated like this: If you took 1 x 10¹⁷ silver dollars and placed them over Texas (the second largest US state), you would not only cover all of Texas but would have a coin pile two feet deep. If you blindfolded yourself, took one of the coins and threw it back into the pile, and walked from the beginning of Texas, stopping only once to find that coin, that is the chance that one person would fulfill only eight of these prophecies.

Bottom line?  Jesus is the Messiah of whom the Old Testament spoke.  He came as promised, fulfilling every prophecy to the letter.  He is the Divine Son of God, and salvation is to those who place their trust in Him (John 20:30-31).  And by the way, there are plenty of prophecies that speak of His second coming!  They’ll be fulfilled to the letter also.  And that, my friends, is our blessed hope!

Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament Messianic prophecies related to His first coming! He will likewise fulfill all those that speak of His second!

O WORD OF GOD INCARNATE
O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky,
we praise Thee for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.

The church from her dear Master
received the gift divine,
and still that light she lifteth
o’er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket,
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heav’n-drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.

It floateth like a banner
before God’s host unfurled;
it shineth like a beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass
that o’er life’s surging sea,
‘mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
still guides, O Christ, to Thee.

O make Thy Church, dear Savior,
a lamp of burnished gold,
to bear before the nations
Thy true light as of old.
O teach Thy wand’ring pilgrims
by this, their path to trace,
‘til, clouds and darkness ended,
they see Thee face to face.

May 7

Bible Reading: John 19:17-22

John 19:19-20 “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.”

I have often referred to the thief on the cross as my “hospice hero.”  Though he was a robber, and had done nothing to earn or merit salvation, God mercifully worked to save him mere hours before his death, as he responded to the truth about Jesus.

The sign displayed the truth about Jesus and was written in three languages—Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.   Many read what the sign had to say.  The religious leaders had argued that Pilate should write instead, “This man said, I am King of the Jews,” but Pilate refused to alter what he had written (John 19:21-22).  Thus, the sign thus bore testimony to the truth about Jesus.

The two thieves crucified with Jesus no doubt saw the sign.  Jesus being crucified alongside two thieves was not accidental; it was foretold in the prophecy that He would be “numbered with the transgressors” (Luke 22:37).  They would both serve, by their varied responses, to illustrate the two disparaged destinies of those who believe and those who don’t. In the start of things, both were mocking Jesus—along with just about everybody else (Matthew 27:29, 39, 42-44).  Both robbers saw the same things.  They both saw the bitter abuse directed at Jesus.  Both heard Him utter those surprising words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 22:34).  Both saw the sign above His head which testified to the truth regarding Jesus’ identity. 

Both witnessed the same things, but the heart of one underwent a miraculous transformation.  “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong (Luke 23:39-41).”  The one robber came to understand the truth about Jesus and himself.  How precious is the Spirit of God’s convicting work (John 16:8-11)!  With believing eyes, he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).  Simply put, the robber believed the truth of the sign above Jesus’ head and thereby received salvation (Luke 23:43).  He received God’s merciful forgiveness through no merit of his own (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

The sign at Calvary has long since rotted away, but the truth revealed on that day still stands.  “Christ Jesus came into the world save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).  He alone can save (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  All men have no choice but to fall in behind one thief or the other (John 3:36).  The truth of that sign cries out “believe!” Some do and some don’t.  On which side of the cross do you stand (1 John 5:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”—John 3:36

THE PENITENT THIEF
Come see the power of Christ our King
When on the cross the Savior hung,
His grace a dying thief did bring,
To own him with his heart and tongue.

One malefactor scorned Christ’s name,
The other did his sin reprove;
Then said by faith to God’s dear Lamb,
“Remember me O Lord above.”

What noble faith in him appeared,
That he could trust a dying Lord!
He soon the blessed Jesus heard
Pronounce this sweet reviving word;

“Amen, this day thy soul shall be
With me in Paradise above.”
This made the dying prisoner free;
These words were full of boundless love.

What comfort did this speech convey,
To his poor guilty wretched mind!
When thus he heard the Savior say,
Great peace the criminal did find.

Thus Jesus Christ forgave the thief,
And showed great mercy to the man;
So in the midst of woe and grief,
His joy and happiness began.

O how he sings the Savior’s praise,
Who took him at the very last,
When he his youthful strength and days
In Satan’s cause had spent and past!

Now he adores God’s holy name,
And stands before the Savior’s face;
And will eternally proclaim
The boundless riches of his grace!