Thursday, March 31, 2005
Luke 24:36-49
I can relate right now to the disciples in yesterday's passage, sad and discouraged. Jesus shows up and gives them hope again. I need to pray for that.
posted by Susanna King 7:51 PM
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Luke 24:13-35
When Jesus draws near on life's road, how do we recognize him? From reading this passage, I'd say it takes faith and a willingness to listen.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
John 20:11-18
Mary seems to want everything to be the same as before when she sees Jesus again. She calls him "Teacher" and runs to embrace him. But he has to let her know that things have changed, that he is the same person but also someone new.
posted by Susanna King 8:03 PM
Monday, March 28, 2005
Matthew 28:(1-8) 9-15
Both the angel and Jesus tell the Marys, "Do not be afraid." It must have been a bewildering and frightening experience as described here, but it seems like God wanted to calm those fears and allow the joy they must also have felt to shine through.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 26, 2005
John 19:38-42
I like what the FDBD writer says about the garden where Jesus' tomb was bringing to mind the Garden of Eden. In one garden, sin was created; in the other, it was finally forgiven for all time.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Friday, March 25, 2005
John 19:1-37
It's interesting, what the FDBD writer points out about Jesus' concern fro those he's leaving behind. That he makes the effort while on the cross to see that his mother is cared for in his absence shows that he was, indeed, truly human.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Thursday, March 24, 2005
John 13:1-15
(It's kind of confusing to read the passage that comes before the one I read yesterday, but I suppose the readings are all out of order because this one has to be read today, Maundy Thursday.) Reading these verses, I am glad to know that, because Jesus was here on earth, God knows what it's like for people to care about one another.
posted by Susanna King 10:17 PM
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
John 13:21-35
It's interesting what the FDBD writer points out: that language of light is used to describe Jesus, but that when Judas goes to betray him, it's night.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
John 12:37-50
Jesus says he has come to save the world, not to judge it. I read this and thought, "Then who will be the judge?" Jesus says next, "on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge." (vs.48) In other words, Jesus has told us what to do, and we either follow those guidelines or we don't. We ourselves know whether or not we've done right by him.
posted by Susanna King 6:43 PM
Monday, March 21, 2005
John 12:1-11
So, we return to the same verses I read just last Friday. Today, I'm struck by Judas' lack of foresight. He goes around pilfering from the common purse as if the current set-up will go on forever, as if nothing's going to change. He's become complacent, and he scolds Mary for doing something that challenges that complacency, all the while ignoring Jesus' hints that things are going to change a lot, soon.
I know I'm guilty of complacency, selfishly using the current situation for my own ends instead of thinking of others and planning for the future. But, obviously, I don't want to be like Judas. Maybe it's time to start paying attention to what's going on around me, and listen to what God is calling me to do.
posted by Susanna King 7:49 PM
Friday, March 18, 2005
John 12:1-11
This passage makes me think that God understands gratitude and will not fault us for it. Like Mary and the perfume, we can give flowers and stained-glass windows in thanksgiving and as a testament to the glory of God.
posted by Susanna King 7:00 PM
Thursday, March 17, 2005
John 10:19-42
Verses 33-36 provide a lot of food for thought. My study Bible says that the passage Jesus quotes, Psalm 82 verse 6, is meant to illustrate that "titles are less important than realities." In other words, he's saying that it's not what you're called that matters, it's who you are.
posted by Susanna King 6:16 PM
Thursday, March 10, 2005
John 6:41-51
Right now, I'm very distracted planning a trip I'm going to go on. This passage reminds me, in the midst of my preparations, what is really important. Bread is a basic food of survival in many cultures. Jesus is the "bread of life," providing us with the basics for spiritual survival.
posted by Susanna King 8:45 PM
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
John 6:27-40
Now the people who have been following Jesus around talk to him some more. They want to know how to please God, and Jesus says they need to believe in the one God has sent. He also says, a couple times, that everything God gives him, he still has. Nothing lost in the mail, nothing stolen away. I guess this is important to remember a few weeks from now: Even at his lowest point, during his crucifixion, Jesus still has everything God has given him (vs. 39). It makes me think of the word "everything" in a new light, that's for sure.
posted by Susanna King 8:40 PM
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
John 6:16-27
I usually hear this story from the point of view of the disciples (Matthew 14:22-23), so it's interesting to read about what the people on the shore thought was happening. The disciples had gone off in their boat without Jesus, but when the people followed them they found Jesus with the disciples. How did he get there?
posted by Susanna King 6:28 PM
Monday, March 07, 2005
John 6:1-15
As the FDBD writer points out, in this passage Jesus shows us how much can be accomplished by using what we already have. Too often, we say we're going to wait to give to others until we've got enough for ourselves. Jesus demonstrates that no matter how little, we've always got enough to share.
posted by Susanna King 6:25 PM