Tag Archives: Peter

Marching into Mark Chapter Fourteen

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 87, March 28 )

On Facebook, you can join us at Itty Bitty Bible Study Group.

Passage
Mark Chapter Fourteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

Mark 14 ( Cross Referencing with Matt 26 and Luke 22)
- Mk 14:1-2 Timing
- Mindfully Meditating in Matthew 26
- Mk 14:1 After two days it was the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a treacherous way to arrest and kill Him. ²“Not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be rioting among the people.”
- Mk 14:3-9 Anointed
- Mk 14³While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.
- Why wasn’t that sold?
- Mk 14⁶Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for Me. ⁷You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me. ⁸She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. ⁹I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
- Lent Day 3 Mary Annoints Jesus’ Feet
- Mk 14:10-11 Judas decides to Betray Christ
- Lent Day 9 Judas
- Mk 14:12-16 Preparation for Passover
- Mk 14¹³So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room for Me to eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹⁵He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” ¹⁶So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
- Just like with the donkey and colt!
- Lent Day 10 – Upper Room Prepared
- Mk 14:17-20 BETRAYAL
- Mk 14²⁰He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread with Me in the bowl. ²¹For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
- Lent Day 15 Declaration of Judas’ Betrayal
- Mk 14:22-26 The First Lord’s Supper
- Mk 14²²As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it;^[b] this is My body.”
- Mk 14²³Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it. ²⁴He said to them, “This is My blood that establishes the covenant;^[c] it is shed for many.
- Lent Day 11 – Remember
- Lent Day 12 – New Covenant
- Lent Day 13 – The Bread and the Cup
- Mk 14:27-31 Denials Prophesied
- Mk 14³⁰“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”
- Mk 14³¹But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And they all said the same thing.
- Mk 14:32-42 Prayer in the Garden
- Most of the disciples are told to pray but left in one spot
- Peter, James and John taken further up, told to pray and stay awake
- Mk 14³⁵Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.
- One: Mk 14³⁷Then He came and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you sleeping?” He asked Peter. “Couldn’t you stay awake one hour?
- Two: Mk 14⁴⁰And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.^[j] They did not know what to say to Him.
- Three: Mk 14⁴¹Then He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?
- Mk 14⁴²Get up; let’s go! See—My betrayer is near.”
- Mk 14:43-50 Judas kisses, everyone else runs away.
- Mk 14⁴³While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
- Judas kisses him to identify him
- Arrested
- Mk14 ⁵⁰Then they all deserted Him and ran away.
- Lent Day 15 – Judas’ Betrayal
- Mk 14:53-65 Courts and Trials
- Mk 14⁵⁵The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none.
- Mk 14⁵⁹Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.
- Mk 14⁶¹But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
- Mk 14⁶²“I am,” said Jesus, “and all of you^[o] will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- Mk 14⁶⁴You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
- Then he was beaten and mocked
- Lent Day 30 – Mocked and Beaten
- Lent Day 31 – Courts and Trials
- Mk 14:66-72 Peter’s denial
- Mk 14⁶⁶While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servants came.
- ONE- Mk 14⁶⁸But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about!” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.^[r]
- TWO – Mk 14⁷⁰But again he denied it.
- THREE – Mk 14⁷¹Then he started to curse^[t] and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
- Cock Crowed
- Peter wept
- Lent Day 16 – Dear Peter

More discussion about these stories in Mindfully Meditating in Matthew 26

A good place to see the four gospels compared is from Synoptic Gospel Parallels.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Mark 14:36
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

Mk 14:36 Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
NEVERTHELESS, not what I will, but what YOU will.
Nevertheless, NOT what I will, but what You will.
Nevertheless, not WHAT I will, but what You will.
Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.

and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

Broken and Spilled out – Steve Green

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I use coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Last Supper Coloring Page – ColoringHome

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later. Some thoughts to dig deeper.

What did the woman spilling all of her expensive oil represent?
1. Got Questions brings together all four gospels to discuss this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Marching into Mark Chapter Eight

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 76, March 17 )

On Facebook, you can join us at Itty Bitty Bible Study Group.

Passage
Mark Chapter Eight

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

Mark 8 (cross referenced with Matthew 15 & 16)
- Mk 8:1-10 Feeding Repeat!
  - In a deserted place
  - folks are hungry
  - Jesus – “Feed them”
  - Apostles – we don’t have enough money
  - Jesus ‘ “what DO you have?”
  - Blesses the seven loaves, and feeds 4000 with 7 baskets of leftovers.
  - ¹⁰and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.^[b]
- Mk 8:11-13 No sign but Jonah (Mt 12:38-41)
- Mk 8:14- 21 Beware the Yeast of Pharisees
- Apostles forgot bread
- Jesus – “Beware of the yeast of Pharisees”
- Apostles – because we forgot bread
- ¹⁷Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? ¹⁸Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?^[c] And do you not remember?
- 5000 – 12 baskets
- 4000 – 7 baskets
- ²¹And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
- Mk 8:22- 26 Healing a blind man that took two attempts
- Partial sight – I see men as trees walking
- Full sight – ²⁵Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly.
- Mk 8: 27- 30 Who do you say that I am?
- Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”
- Mk 8:31-33
- ³¹Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.
- Peter Rebukes Him
- He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns,^[e] but man’s!”
- Mk 8:34-38 Count the Cost
- He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
- ³⁶For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? ³⁷What can a man give in exchange for his life?
- ³⁸For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
- Jim Elliot – ‘He is no fools who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
- Mindfully Meditating in Matthew 15, MMM16

A place to see the four gospels compared is from Synoptic Gospel Parallels.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Mark 8:29
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

²⁹“But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”
WHO do you say that I am? You are the Messiah!
Who DO you say that I am? You are the Messiah!
Who do YOU say that I am? You are the Messiah!
Who do you SAY that I am? You are the Messiah!

and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

Who do Say that I am – David Phelps

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I use coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Jesus heals the Blind Man coloring page by ColoringHome

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later. Some thoughts to dig deeper.

What is the sign of Jonah?
1. GotQuestions discusses this is Sign of Jonah
2. I have an Itty Bitty Bible Study on Jonah starting with this Introduction
What do you think about the Apostles forgetting about the feeding of the 5000, when they needed to feed the 4000?
1. Your answer
2. Leaven of the Pharisees by GotQuestions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Marching into Mark Chapter One

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 65, March 6)

Passage
Mark Chapter One

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

Mark 1 (Cross Referencing Matthew 3 – and 4)

Mk 1:1 What Mark is talking about
- The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Mk1:2- 3 John the Baptist – Fulfillment of Prophecy
- ²As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:^[a]
- Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,
  who will prepare Your way.^[b]
- A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
  Prepare the way for the Lord;
  make His paths straight!^[
Mk 1:4-8 What John Did
- ⁴John came baptizing^[d] in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance^[e] for the forgiveness of sins.
- ⁶John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist
- and ate locusts and wild honey.
- ⁷He was preaching: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.
- ⁸I have baptized you with^[f] water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mk 1:9- 11 John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan
- Heavens open, spirit like a dove
- A voice from heaven said:
- You are My beloved Son;
  I take delight in You!
Mk 1:12-13 Temptation in the Wilderness
- ¹²Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
- ¹³He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan.
- He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.
Mk 1:14 Jesus to Galilee and John to Prison
- ¹⁴After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news^[h]^[i] of God:
Mk 1:15 FULFILLED
- ¹⁵“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Mk1:16-20 Calling the Disciples
- Simon and Andrew, James and John
- immediately left their ships
Mk 1:21-21 Taught in the Synagogue
- ²²They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.
Mk 1:23-28 Dealing with an Unclean Spirit
- ²⁴“What do You have to do with us,^[m] Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Jesus said “Be quiet,^[n] and come out of him!” and he did.
- ²⁷Then they were all amazed,
- ²⁸News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Mk 1:29-31 Healed Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law
Mk 1:32- 34 many delivered from unclean spirits, healed from diseases
- But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Mk 1:35-39 After praying, went to all of Galilee preaching
Mk 1:40-44 Jesus heals the man with skin disease (leprosy in other versions)
- ⁴²Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.
- Tell no one, go, give the offering to the priests
Mk 1:45 He(the healed man) wasn’t silent
- ⁴⁵Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.
Mindfully Meditating in Matthew 3 or MMM3
MMM4

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Mark 1:15
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

¹⁵“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
THE time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
The TIME is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
The time IS fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
The time is FULFILLED, and the kingdom of God has come near.

and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I us coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Jesus in the Desert Coloring page by Drawn and Creative

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Who is the voice of one crying in the Wilderness?
1. Got Questions discusses this from Isaiah and how it applies to our lives today.
Why did Jesus tell the unclean spirits to keep silent?
1. The Gospel Coalition goes into great depth about the whole concept of Jesus revealing AND concealing Himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Chapter 26 or MMM26

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Chapter Twenty-six

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 57, Feb 26)

Passage Matthew Chapter Twenty six

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 26 (cross reference with Mark 14)
- Mt 26:1-2 Jesus foretells his death – as in very soon
- Mt 26:3-5 Chief Priests plan to take him – but afraid
  - ⁵“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- Mt 26:6-13 at Simon the Lepers house
  - a woman comes to anoint Jesus (Mark 14:3-9)
  - disciples complain about misused resources
- Mt 26:14-16 Judas plans his betrayal
  - ¹⁴Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
  - ¹⁶From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
- Mt 26:17-19 Preparations for Passover meal
- Mt 26:20-25 Jesus declares betrayal
  - And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
  - ²³Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
  - Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
    - Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
    - Jesus KNEW
    - Lent Day 9 Are you a Judas?
- Mt 26:26-29 The Lord’s Supper or Communion/Passover meal
  - Bread is my body
  - Wine is my blood
  - do this in remembrance of me.
- Mt 26:30
  - ³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
- Mt 26:31-32 Jesus foretells the denial of the disciples
  - ³¹Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
    - “‘I will strike the shepherd,
      and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[c]
  - reminds them he’ll rise again
    - ³²But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
- Mt 26:33-35 Peter’s confession, then Jesus’ foretelling
  - ³³Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
  - ³⁴“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
- Mt 26:36-45 In the Garden – Jesus Prays
  - ³⁸Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow^[j] —to the point of death.^[k] Remain here and stay awake with Me.”
  - Jesus prays three times
    - My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
    - My Father, if this^[n] cannot pass^[o] unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
  - Disciples sleep
    - ⁴⁰Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you^[m] stay awake with Me one hour?
    - ⁴³And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.^[p]
    - ⁴⁵Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?^[q] Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
- Mt 26:45-56 Jesus’ Arrest – riotous mob
  - ⁴⁶Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.”
  - While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.
  - Betrayed with a kiss
  - Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. ⁵
    - One of the disciples cut off the high priest’s slave’s ear
    - ⁵²Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. ⁵³Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions^[s] of angels?
    - ⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,^[t] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.
- Mt 26:56 – Jesus is deserted
  - Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.
- Mt 26:57-68 Jesus and the Sanhedrin
  - ⁵⁹The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. ⁶⁰But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.
  - ⁶⁴“You have said it,”^[aa] Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future^[ab] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
  - He has blasphemed! … “He deserves death!”
- Mt 26:69-75 Peter denies Christ three times
  - “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
    - ⁷⁰But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
    - ⁷²And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”
    - ⁷⁴Then he started to curse^[af] and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
      - Immediately a rooster crowed,
      - ⁷⁵and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
      - And he went outside and wept bitterly.
  - Lent day 15 – Dear Peter

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example:
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

Today, choose your own scripture verse that helps you meditate on the Last Supper, or the denial of Christ.

and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

I am the Bread of Life

Broken and Spilled Out – Steve Green

Coloring

Matthew the Book coloring page by Ministry to Children

Mary Washing Jesus’ feet – the ColoringHome

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

What do you think about the expensive oil being poured out on Jesus’ head?
1. Your answer
How many women anointed Jesus?
1. Christianityfaq has some ideas about this.
Have you ever denied Christ?
1. 1 John 1 & 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 17 or MMM17

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter seventeen

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 48, Feb 17)

Passage Matthew Chapter Seventeen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 17
- Mt 17:1-9 Transfiguration
  - Peter James and John chosen
  - Semi-Glorified Body
    - ²He was transformed^[a] in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.
  - Moses and Elijah in Resurrected Bodies
    - ³Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
  - Seemed real to dear Peter
    - ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make^[b] three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
      - you don’t make tabernacles (shelters, tents) for ghosts
  - Then God spoke
    - ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered^[c] them, and a voice from the cloud said:
    - This is My beloved Son.
      I take delight in Him.
      Listen to Him!
  - The fear of the Lord
    - ⁶When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
    - ⁷Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”
- Mt 17:10-13 Elijah? John the Baptist?
  - ¹²“But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”^[h]
- Mt 17:14-21 Healing the son with seizures – Faith
  - ¹⁵“Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures^[i] and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
    - the father moved up the ladder of authority.
  - ¹⁷Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious^[j] generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
    - apparently, the disciples should have been able
  - Why Not?
    - ¹⁹Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
    - ²⁰“Because of your little faith,” He^[n] told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of^[o] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
  - BUT – there is differences!!!
    - [²¹However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]”^[p]
- Mt 17: 22-23 Second mention of his coming death
  - Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed.
- Mt 17: 24- 27 Paying Taxes
  - Peter asked by tax collectors
    - “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”
  - Peter says
    - “Yes,”
      - but what was his plan?????
  - Jesus first!
    - “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”^[
    - “From strangers,”
    - “Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. ²⁷“But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.^[v] Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”
      - basic principle that we are not the sons of this government, so we should pay taxes, but also allows that God will provide.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 17:5
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!
THIS is my beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This IS My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This is MY beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This is My BELOVED Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Mount of Transfiguration coloring page available at The Homely Hours.

Transfiguration from the Coloring Home

a page from the feast of the transfiguration from the Catholic Playground

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Where or what was the mount of transfiguration?
1. Got Answers discusses some various thoughts.
Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon? The strength of the demon or their lack of faith?
1. Bible Ask explains it in a way that enlightened me!
What do you think about the issue of taxes?
1. Your answer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 16 or MMM16

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 47, Feb 16)

Passage Matthew Chapter Sixteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 16
- Mt 16:1-4 Signs
  - ⁴A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
  - Itty Bitty Bible Study on Jonah
- Mt 16:5-12 Yeast discussions
  - ⁵When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
  - ⁹Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
  - ¹²Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Mt 16:13-17 The Son of Man
  - ¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
  - ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
  - ¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
- Mt 16:18-20 Peter and keys to kingdom
  - ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter,^[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[c] will not overcome it.
    - see question below
  - ⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.”
- Mt 16:21-23 – Jesus reveals Jerusalem events
  - Jesus is going to be killed
  - Peter says no, never
  - ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
  - Poor Peter!
- Mt 16:24-28
  - ²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
  - Jim Elliott – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 15:18
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.”
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I WILL give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I will GIVE you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I will give YOU the keys of the kingdom of heaven

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

I’m sorry, no coloring pages for Who do you say that I am, or the yeast of the pharisees.

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Is Peter the Rock or his confession the Rock?
1. GotAnswers explains it this way.
2. More on Peter from my Lent Story.
To whom are the keys to the Kingdom given?
1. Christianity.com sees it this way.
2. GotQuestions discusses it as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 4 or MMM4

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 35, Feb 4)

Passage

Matthew Chapter Four

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Homan Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 4
- Mt 4:1-11 The Temptation of Christ
  - ⁴But He answered, “It is written:
  - ⁷Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”^[
  - ¹⁰Then Jesus told him, “Go away,^[f] Satan! For it is written:
    - The basis for spiritual warfare – knowing the Word of God
- Mt 4:12-17 Ministry Begins
  - ¹⁷From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
- Mt 4:18-22 Calling Peter, Andrew, James and John
  - ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
  - ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
- Mt 4:23- 25 Teaching and ministry
  - ²⁴Then the news about Him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them.

Image by Scottish Guy from Pixabay

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 4:7
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

⁷Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
JESUS told him, it is also written…
Jesus TOLD him, it is also written…
Jesus told HIM, it is also written…

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Temptation of Christ- digital or print it out (right click, choose save image and put it in your pictures folder to print out)

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

What do you think the three temptations stand for?
1. Biblical Christianity says this, which I agree with, but my answer relates to 1 John 2:16
Who else preached “repent”, and why do you think this is what Jesus was preaching?
1. your answer
What does the calling of the four disciples tell us about how we should respond?
1. your answer

~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

My One Word – Prov 4:23 #2

Proverbs 4:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.

Last time, I talked about the importance of Word!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guard my heart – I want to dig into the words, because I want to know a bit more about the words!
Why?
Well, I believe everything started with a word (phrase, actually)

Genesis 1:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Jesus is the Word…and was there in the beginning!

John 1:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Prologue
1 In the beginning was the Word,[a]
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.

To be like Jesus, I need to know Jesus more.
Jesus is the incarnation of God the Father, and the way that God made for me to KNOW Him better.
The Holy Spirit is the indwelling person of the Godhead. To know Him, I need to spend time with Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next word/phrase is all vigilance, diligence, utmost care, and above all else.
It’s serious.
It’s to be done intentionally.

This is how I will guard my heart with all diligence.

Walking in the Spirit.
Living in the Spirit.
Hide the Word in my heart.
Study Jesus!
Be like Jesus!
Keep account of my days…Ps 90:12
Seek wisdom
Be Prepared for what’s coming.

One thing that I’m certain of, in the focus upon words, that we will be judged by our words.

Matthew 12:36-37 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.[a] 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Proverbs 13:2-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 The one who guards his mouth protects his life;
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

What does the mouth have to do with the heart?

Matthew 12:34 King James Version (KJV)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Luke 6:45 King James Version (KJV)
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

The mouth is the indication of what is in the heart! My words can tell me what is the state of my heart.

James 1:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

To protect my heart, I need to govern my tongue.

Psalm 34:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.

Psalm 39:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
I said, “I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

Psalm 141:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips.

James 3 talks about taming the tongue.

The thing is, James 3:1 fits the diligently warning…
The Berean Bible says it this way:

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

I’ve talked about us being judged…above about our words, our tongue. What about other ways?

1 Corinthians 11:28-32 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
28 So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,[a] eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. 31 If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, 32 but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.

Jeremiah 31:17-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 There is hope for your future—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and your children will return to their own territory.
18 I have heard Ephraim moaning,
“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined
like an untrained calf.
Restore me, and I will return,
for you, Lord, are my God.
19 After I returned, I repented;
After I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief.
I was ashamed and humiliated
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.”
20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to Me,
a delightful child?
Whenever I speak against him,
I certainly still think about him.
Therefore, My inner being yearns for him;
I will truly have compassion on him.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

Itty Bitty Bible Study Habakkuk 1 talks about how allows things to discipline us. How much better to be disciplined by the Father, than judged without grace!

IBBS Habakkuk 3 goes into the reason that we want the Father to discipline us…as His sons.

The point here is not judgement in the sense of condemnation, but rather conviction and self searching to rid ourselves from anything that would be displeasing to the Lord!

Psalm 139:23-24 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive[a] way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

Our Prayer – our heart – should be that Father God would help us to search our hearts,

Psalm 51 is a prayer for cleansing, of repentance, and of trust that the Lord would renew us, in the light of some consequences for choices that make life a bit uncomfortable. That discomfort is to cause us to turn back to the Lord, and repent from the ‘other’ that we were following.

If we were supposed to be perfect, we would not have the promises in 1 John for an advocate that will cleanse us from our sins!
It’s our job to check our hearts…and to continually put off those fleshly things and put on the things of the Spirit…the fruit, the qualities of Love, the beattitudes that Jesus taught…to crucify the flesh and strengthen the Spirit by the Power of the blood of Jesus, and the renewing of the mind.
romans 12:1-2

There is a Christian comedian/satirist named John Christ. He has several videos about Check your heart!

Seriously, why should we check our heart?
Well, there are others that are…Christian and non Christian…as well as our Father in Heaven!

I wrote about the difference between Judas and Peter – they both denied Christ…but one had heart knowledge of forgiveness.

Lent Day 9 – Judas’ betrayal

Jesus pled with the disciples at Gethsemane to Watch and Pray that they not fall into temptation! Matthew 26:41
Jesus told Peter that Satan had a target on his back! Luke 22:321
Paul wrote much about being aware of the enemy’s schemes.

Lent day 15 – Betrayal

I believe it is the heart issue.
We’ve talked a lot about how works are the evidence of our salvation. The outward sign of our inner work is how the Episcopalians describe sacraments. Neither the sacraments, nor the disciplines of faith, nor even the fruits gain us salvation, but they are evidences of our salvation. Jesus said that we can know them by their fruit.

Judas was willing to betray this man – but Peter was not willing to have him wash his feet!

Judas was known to be a thief – but Peter was willing to step out on water, and was declaring his dying loyalty!

Judas did not understand the concept of forgiveness – Peter had been taught over and over, and was alive to experience Christ’s forgiveness.

Lent Day 16 – Dear Peter

I wonder what Peter learned from his experience with JESUS. When Peter stepped out of the boat in faith and walked on the water, and then he looked around at the storm and he took his eyes off Jesus, and said “Lord Jesus save me”, and Jesus reached out his hands and caught him. I wonder, did that impact Peters understanding that Jesus knows we’re going to mess up, and Jesus would forgive. This experience had to be enormously impactful to this fisherman!

IBBS Ephesians 2:11-19 goes into the comparison of flesh and spirit.
If we are showing fleshly behaviors…our heart is in the flesh!
If we are showing spirit behaviors…our heart is in the Spirit!

Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-25 lists the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-25 King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

IBBS Galatians 5 goes into detail about how we can be free from the law, but also, needing to walk in the Spirit and producing fruit.

In John 15, we have Jesus talking to us about abiding in Him, and producing much fruit.

John 15:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be[a] My disciples.

We prove that we are God’s disciples by our fruit!
One of the ways we can judge the fruit is by the words that come out of someone’s mouth…or, our own mouth!

Dear friends, in checking my heart, I’ve been listening to the words of my mouth.
They may not be all horrible, but they are not always positive!

Phil 4 has so much in it about how to stand firm in God, but verse 8 talks about what things to focus upon.

Philippians 4:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

If these are the things I’m meditating upon, wouldn’t these be the qualities of what comes out of my mouth?

Back to life and death are in the power of the tongue.
When God gave me this focus for this year, to guard my heart, I thought that it was going to be a study on the heart.
No…it’s a study on how to CHECK my heart!

Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

HE IS RISEN – a Resurrection Message from me

I’m not sure how this will work, but I want to try to share a message with you that the Lord gave me this morning as I was preparing for a sunrise Bible study on my porch.

https://www.facebook.com/mary.wildman.733/videos/2044181839136970/

For worship, music, and prayers – Please go to my Easter post – and rejoice with me!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
Project Based Missions, Global
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Compassion

2018 Lent Day Sixteen – 3/3 Dear Peter

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two for catch up.
Lent Week Three – this week.

We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Sixteen
Peter Warned and falls.

Music
Peter walked on water!
Save me – Peter’s Song – Ian Calk

Matthew 26:31-35 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away[a] because of Me, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.[b]

32 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

33 Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”

34 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”

35 “Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Matthew 26:69-75 Denial

Mark 14:27-31 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away,[a][b] because it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.[c]

28 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

29 Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!”

30 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”

31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And they all said the same thing.

Mark 14:66-72 denial

Luke 22:31-34 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[a] look out! Satan has asked to sift you[b] like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you[c] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

34 “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until[d] you deny three times that you know Me!”

Luke 22:54-62 Denial

John 13:36-38 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denials Predicted
36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27

Devotion
Peter’s loyalty tested

I love Peter! I see myself in some of Peter, and there are parts of Peter that I wish I saw in myself. I see myself in Peter in the ways that his mouth opens up and says things before he really thinks it through! I wish that I saw in myself the courage to step out of the boat by just asking Jesus “call me” and I will come walk to you on the water. Peter was willing to take up a sword to fight for Jesus.
Peter was willing to argue with Jesus about whether or not he should died in Jerusalem and whether or not he should have his feet washed or his whole body washed. Now those aren’t necessarily things that I would like to have as part of my walk except that Peter had this courageous faith. Yes, sometimes he was off in his application, but he was wholeheartedly following the Lord. I think that pleased the Lord!

It’s easier to steer a ship that is moving, than one that is standing still!

With this background, when Jesus says that there’s someone here who will betrays him and whatever and Peter says
“no not me”,
it had to take him a back to be told
“oh Peter, before the cock crows twice you will have denied me thrice.

Jesus loved Peter so much, even though he was impetuous and kind of a wild kind of guy. when Jesus knew that the devil was asking to attack Peter so Jesus prayed specifically that the devil would not prevail against Peter.

Luke 22:31-32 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[a] look out! Satan has asked to sift you[b] like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you[c] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter walked on water! Matthew 14:22-33
Peter declared Christ was the Son of God! Matthew 16:13-17
Peter was one of the chosen three, Peter, James and John, that went with Jesus to the Mount of transfigurarion. Matthew 17
Peter was the one Jesus went up to and specifically made a point of asking him to feed his sheep. John 21:15-17

He was warned!
I don’t know about you but sometimes I think if I’m told I’m going to mess up in the area, I’m going to do all I can to not mess up!. I am sure that Peter was preparing to not do anything that could set him up for denying him. Wouldn’t you? Peter had lifted a sword and cut off the ear of one that came to take Jesus away (Mt 26:51-54, lk 22:50;Mk 14:47; John 18:10-11)! Yet, when he was face to face with accusations, he crumbled.

In John 18, we hear that Peter got into the courtyard because John(who always referred to himself as “a disciple”) knew the high priest and was able to get Peter in, though he would stay in the courtyard. Apparently those guys from Nazareth had as unique of an accent as folks that we here in America recognize as from New York, Boston or let’s say those that come from Jamaica.

As far as I’m concerned all the southern types of accents have started rolling together for me, though many years ago, when I knew which cousins were from what state, I could differentiate between the southern states. Not anymore.

Peter didn’t keep his mouth shut, or at least when someone else said “hey I saw you with that man Jesus!” he said no not me. He was exposed because of his accent. On the other hand, if you want to see this a different way, this was Passover. Everybody from Israel, every Jew that could make it, was in Jerusalem for Passover. He could have hidden amongst all the visitors! He just denied it.

“No, not me!”
Cockadoodledoo

Then another denial.

And another, which is stated he started to curse, which is the third

Cockadoodledoo

I’m just combining the different gospels….

As it would happen, Peter looked up and saw Jesus being marched off and Jesus looked into his eyes and their eyes met. Peter realized what had happened. Luke 22:61. All of the gospels says he went off and wept bitterly.

How does this relate when you look at Judas?

Judas was certain that Jesus was on the wrong path, and he turned him over to the high priest.

I don’t think Peter was questioning Jesus’s path, but he was finding out that he wasn’t so quick to want to die for Jesus.

Judas was willing to take money to turn Jesus over. It doesn’t say that they were going to kill him, but that they were going to take Jesus into custody.

Peter was not willing to put his life on the line and pay the cost to be associated with Jesus.

When both men realized what they had done, they went into deep despair.
Peter went back to fishing, figuring he was unworthy to serve the Lord. He may have not known anything else to do, because his whole plan was to walk with Jesus and now Jesus was dead. “Now what do we do?” He did what he needed to do, he went back to fishing.
Judas tried to get rid of the “blood” money he had gotten for turning Jesus in, and the Pharisees basically said “it’s not our problem that’s your problem”. Judas took his own life.

I have to wonder, like I said in the blog about Judas,
did he miss the concept of forgiveness?
Did he miss the concept that there was going to be a price to be paid and that then there would be grace?
Did he miss that Jesus allowed him to participate even though Jesus knew that he was a thief?

Then I wonder, what did Peter know the Judas didn’t?
Did Peter have some basis of Faith like David in Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 51 and Psalm 55(to list a few) that somehow God was a loving God and fully intended to forgive?

When I get to the itty bitty bible study on 1st and 2nd Peter I’m going to be looking at what theme does Peter have, in order to see where his understanding about Jesus is.

Then again, his understanding changed dramatically when he and Jesus stood on the beach after Jesus rose again.
It also probably changed in the upper room, both when Jesus came to see them, and the wonderful story in Acts 2 and Peter preached the whole BIBLE!

I wonder what Peter learned from his experience with JESUS. When Peter stepped out of the boat in faith and walked on the water, and then he looked around at the storm and he took his eyes off Jesus, and said “Lord Jesus save me”, and Jesus reached out his hands and caught him. I wonder, did that impact Peters understanding that Jesus knows we’re going to mess up, and Jesus would forgive. This experience had to be enormously impactful to this fisherman!

There is only one way that we will know. That is when we stand before Jesus and we start celebrating with all the saints that have gone before us, and we can look at Peter and say “hey what’s up? What did you know the Judas didn’t?”

The next thing that I think of every time I talk about what I’m going to ask God about when I get to heaven is this; will I care?

So there’s a couple of points that I take from Peters confession of loyalty, denial, an ultimate forgiveness and call to walk in his calling.

1. Never be so arrogant as to assume that I cannot stumble and fall. Pride does go before a fall and a haughty spirit Before Destruction(Proverbs 16:18). There’s a reason this and other Bible verses exist! Humility! Christ was humble. Humility is one of the key character qualities God wants in our lives. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their Wicked Ways then I will hear them and then I will heal their land. There’s a few stops in that verse.

1. MY People
2. Humble themselves
3. Seek my face
4. Turn from their Wicked Ways
How did Peter do?
- Peter walked with Christ, and was counted as one of ‘them’.
- Peter humbled himself, weeping bitterly in repentance.
- When he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead he didn’t just seek him, he ran. as much as he could. to the Grave.
- Then when Jesus confronted him, Peter turned from his Wicked Ways.
- God healed his relationship with Jesus.
2. Short accounts
Of course I’m not going to hold anything against Peter for going off and going back to fishing or whatever, because, come on! Jesus was dead! Peter didn’t have 1st John to explain that he could go to Jesus for forgiveness.

But we can recognize once we realize that we have sinned that we need to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. That’s in 1st John 1:9 – 2:3. The longer we wallow in despair over sin, the longer it takes for us to be forgiven.

Peter’s letter talks about “if you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God he will lift you up in due time.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,[a] 7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Then, there’s this verse:

Proverbs 3:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

It shows that chastisement confirms that we are his children, and we can rejoice because we know that we’re being taught a lesson! That goes with James!

James 1:2-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Trials and Maturity
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

I believe that this is the key difference between Peter and Judas. I’m not sure Judas ever made the full transition into being adopted as a child of God. Whereas Peter knew something was going to happen, he just didn’t understand what. Also, this became part of Peter’s testimony and teachings!

3. Another part of this test is be ready to be confronted and convicted. Here’s another difference between Peter and Judas.

Peter was convicted,
Judas was condemned.

The Holy Spirit Will convict us of sin and that is our chastisement to teach us to turn away from sin.
The enemy condemns us and that turns to self-destruction. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1!

There is conviction,
There is chastisement, and just like the 2 Chronicles 7:14 verse, the point is to cause us to turn away from sin so that God can heal our land.

In James’s explanation of prayer for the sick it says “if any has committed any sins let him confess their sins and they will be healed.” Peter didn’t need to confess to Jesus, because he was looking eye-to-eye at Jesus just as the cock crowed. Jesus still confronted him “Peter do you love me? Then feed my sheep.”

There are some teachings about which Greek word was used each time Jesus said Peter do you love me as in which word love whether it’s agape or whether it’s phileo. Thoughtco.com has a great explanation of the four types of love in the Bible.
In John 21, Jesus asked do you agape love me and Peter said Lord you know I phileo love you. Jesus wanted Peter to say I agape love you, Yet Jesus gives up, and simply asks Peter the third time, do you phileo love me?

Jesus would not allow Peter to wallow in his sin.
Jesus would not allow Peter to be crippled by the sin.
Jesus made sure in the time he had between his resurrection and his Ascension that he got Peter pointed on the right path.

I have no idea how things may have been different for Judas if he understood a little bit more about mercy and Grace. Someone had to turn Jesus in I suppose, otherwise there wouldn’t have been the fulfilled prophecy about the 30 pieces of silver. I don’t know.

I do know that
I depend on the faithfulness of God’s love, Mercy, Grace, and forgiveness, as taught by Jesus Christ before he died on the cross for my sins.
I depend on Jesus Christ as my Advocate with the father.
I depend on Jesus Christ understanding what I’m going through so that he can help me and give me leading and give me guidance.
I depend on the Holy Spirit dwelling Within Me to teach me and to guide me and to comfort me and to cause me to grow into the fullness of God.
I depend on my father God to keep his promise the by my believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I am a new creation all things all old things are passed away and all things are created new and by leaning on God, I can become more and more like Jesus everyday.

That is what I see from the life of Peter. He goes from the older fisherman, to a teacher, miracle worker, being sent forth by Jesus to an apostle that helps start the very Foundation of the Christian Movement. He also was part of the leadership the interactive with Paul.

At the end of Peter’s life we’re told that not only did he give his life for Christ, but that he chose to be hung on a cross upside down. He said he was not worthy to be hung in the same manner as his Lord. He did have the opportunity to give the ultimate sacrifice for his Lord.

I can’t imagine the gospel story without Peter.
I am so thankful he said yes to follow Christ.
I am so thankful that in the gospels we see him as such an exuberant follower. And
I am so thankful that we have the story of his denial followed by the story of Christ specifically calling him to feed his sheep because we all in some way, big or small, everyday, deny Christ.

All of us rise from some fantastic spiritual high and say “Yes Lord call me to walk on the water”.
All of us have seen the storms we take our eyes off Christ and we start to sink and we need to cry out “Save Me Lord!” At least I think everyone.
I know I do.
And I am thankful that the apostles, the disciples, the leaders of the beginning of the Christian church, were not perfect. Looking at their lives gives me hope!

My question to you is, again, are you at Judas or a Peter?

Do you know about the forgiveness of sins for those who seek God and desire to be a child of God?

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

My other question, in light of Judas from the previous day of Lent, are you despairing?
Do you feel that God has given up on you?

For the third Sunday in Lent I’m talking about Jesus crying out “my God my God why has Thou forsaken me?” I suggest you read that and if you need more help with despair and depression that causes you to consider harming yourself, please go to my post about suicide, or call 1-800-273-TALK for help right now. Once you have taken your own life, there is no hope to be changed, healed, delivered, empowered, and set free. The time for that is before suicide.

Prayer and Worship
I have decided to Follow Jesus – Elevation Worship
Give me Faith – Elevation Worship
Give My Life to YOU/Our King has Come – Elevation Worship
You make me Brave – Amanda Cook and Bethel Music
No longer a Slave – Bethel Worship
~~~~~~~Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:
- Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
- Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

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