02/01 John 19:16
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.
POWER
Jesus surrendered himself willingly to be crucified. He could have summoned a legion of angels to rescue Himself but He didn’t. He went quietly and suffered willingly for our sin. Our sin crushed Him but the power of God raised Him from the dead and He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. What a Savior we have!
02/02 John 19:17-18
Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him. There were two others crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
SACRIFICE
He was our sacrifice to pay a price we couldn’t pay. By the shedding of His blood He provided forgiveness for us. Our responsibility is to ask Him to forgive us and believe in faith that He does. This seems so simple and yet so many cannot make the move to believe that God loves them.
02/03 John 19:19
And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
KING
Jesus is KING of all things. He is the KING of the universe and all creation. Ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart. Believing by faith that He has done this let Him walk with you and change your life. A new life is a walk with the KING.
02/04 John 19:20-22
The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.'” Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.”
CONTROL
Pilate thought he was in control. All he had to do was appease the Jews. God is in control. He uses whatever he has to in accomplishing his purposes. He used Pilate to finalize His dramatic rescue plan for mankind. As the minions of Satan rejoiced at the death of the Christ, the Lord already knew it was another step in His redemption of mankind. Thank the Lord for His merciful and gracious gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
02/05 John 19:23-24
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, “Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe.” So that is what they did.
CLOAK
Life is serious, difficult and often unfair. When we come to the Lord He knows what we are facing and He will give us His power to deal with the difficulties of life. Everyone has a hard time. We choose how a hard time will change us. Let God have control of your daily life and He will guide you through the difficult times.
02/06 John 19:25-27
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Woman, he is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “She is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
JESUS
Dying on the cross Jesus was still concerned about His mother. He is concerned about you. He would that you would let Him solve your problems. Focus your heart and mind on Jesus and He will give you the encouragement and solution that you need. We are promised an abundant life in Christ.
02/07 John 19:28-30
Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
LIFE
Jesus gave up His life. They didn’t steal it from Him because He willingly gave up His life as a sacrifice for us. The world focuses on the negative side of everything. Jesus calls us to focus on Him for He is light and life for a dying world.
02/08 John 19:31
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
FORM
People generally opt for the form of something versus the substance. Jesus has just died, paying the price to reconcile the world to the Father. What people don’t realize is that while they are busy with their activity focusing on the form of it they may very well miss the presence of the Lord Jesus. At Passover the true Lamb of God spread His blood across the wooden cross and paid the price we could not pay to give us a gift we could not earn. Jesus is Lord and He loves you.
02/09 John 19:32-33
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs.
PROPHECY
Prophecy fulfilled, not a bone broken (Psalm 34:20.) The Father is concerned about His creation. He gave us this prophecy so that we would know that He was actively inserting His plans into our world. He wasn’t distant. He wasn’t uncaring. In fact He cares so much for us that He gave His only son that we might have life.
02/10 John 19:34-37
One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on him whom they pierced.”
WORD
God’s Word is written to us as a manual for life. In it God gives us the things that we need to make the kind of life that will honor Him and serve Him. Very simple yet mankind makes it very complex. The truth is obey the Lord and He will give you guidance for your daily life.
02/11 John 19:38
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body away.
DISCIPLE
There are no secret disciples in the family of God. We are to be His representative here on Earth. If I am filled with the Spirit of God I will overflow with a witness to Him. Witnessing should be a part of my day to day life. I spend time with Jesus and let Jesus express Himself thru me.
02/12 John 19:39-42
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing about seventy-five pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as is the Jewish custom of burial. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
GARDEN TOMB
In Jerusalem there is a place near the Damascus Gate called the Garden Tomb. It resembles the description above. It is a quiet garden in the middle of a lot of people and mechanical noise a restful place that gives one time to pause and contemplate. I’ve visited this location many times when in Israel. One thing I know He is risen and is not in any tomb.
02/13 John 20:1
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
REALITY
Jesus is the Lord. Mary and the disciples are going to learn that first hand. We weren’t there 2,000 years ago but each one of us that have come into His Kingdom have experienced first hand the risen Lord. Jesus is Lord.
02/14 John 20:2
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!”
MARY
Mary didn’t know that Jesus had risen. It didn’t dawn on her at that time what had happened. Until they see Jesus they are not able to comprehend God’s victory on the Cross. Jesus is alive today and He is interceding for us with the Father. He loves you.
02/15 John 20:3-5
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.
ANXIETY
Anxiety was the emotion that John was feeling. He was missing the Lord Jesus deeply and was feeling defeated. What would they do next? John wasn’t sure. The cloth was there but Jesus wasn’t. No sense of victory here but the truth was that victory was staring them in the face but their brain couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Jesus had risen. Death had been defeated.
02/16 John 20:6-7
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.
WHAT?
What did this mean? Peter wasn’t sure exactly what this meant. At this moment Peter had not connected the dots. For us it means salvation. Christ died for you and me. Christ rose from the dead by the power of God so that we could have His free gift of life-Life in Christ.
02/17 John 20:8-10
Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed — for until then they hadn’t realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from the dead. Then they went home.
BELIEVE
John believed that Jesus rose from the dead. He saw the tomb. He saw the resurrected Jesus. Do you believe? The witness is in the Word and in your heart. The Holy Spirit will confirm to you that Jesus is alive and He is alive in you.
02/18 John 20:11-13
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
LOVE
She had a great love for Jesus. The Romans didn’t scare her. Now it seems as though someone has stolen His body. She didn’t have great theological ideas about Christ she was totally sold out to following Him and confident that the end result would be good. She trusted Jesus but she hadn’t worked out what had happened yet in her mind. She simply shared from her heart. “Where did they put Him?” We don’t have to be theological scholars to have a close, solid relationship with Jesus. Our faith can be immovable. If we believe, simply believe then we will be way ahead of where we would be if we were a doubting Thomas.
02/19 John 20:14-15
She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
SEE
Do you see what is going on in your life? Have you taken God’s Word and measured you actions? When we are looking for something different than what we see we often overlook what is right before us. Are you living the life God called you to live? If you aren’t go to Jesus and He will get you back on track.
02/20 John 20:16-17
“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him and exclaimed, “Teacher!” “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”
SEE
Jesus speaks and He is recognized. He has risen and the first thing He does is to reveal Himself to His followers. If you find yourself alone and a long way from Jesus, it isn’t because Jesus walked away from you. Return to Him and let Jesus heal you. Rejoin your walk with Christ.
02/21 John 20:18
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
TESTIMONY
When we see the Lord we will not let anyone stop us from talking about Him. Witnessing is simple when you are in close communion with Jesus. Just tell others what Christ is doing in your life.
02/22 John 20:19-20
That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord!
JOY
When we walk with the Lord our joy is complete. Whatever happens to us we can overcome because our joy is in Christ. He is Lord and He loves us and will never leave us. Jesus changes the way we see our life for He has a plan for our life and no one or no thing can stop us.
02/23 John 20:21-23
He spoke to them again and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.”
PEACE
Jesus brings peace into our life. When we are filled with the Lord we will have peace like a river flowing through us and touching every area of our life. When we choose to go on our own we quickly find that peace has left us. We don’t generate peace. Peace is one of the resources we have when we are walking with the Lord.
02/24 John 20:24-25
One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin ), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
BELIEVE
Even though you have not seen Him you believe. Claim the life of Christ in you and He will come and reside in you. We accept Christ by faith and we live by faith. We believe He is with us and He promises that when we believe He will be with us. We can live with confidence that Jesus is with us when we follow Him.
02/25 John 20:26
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”
PEACE
Jesus comes in and His peace is available for you. Spend time with Jesus. He will calm the chaos, clear out the fears of life and give us His peace and confidence. We too will be able to say that there is nothing that can destroy us. Jesus is in me and I have light for living. He will guide me and equip me to deal with real life.
02/26 John 20:27
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
BELIEVE
Step forward and ask Christ to be in control of your life. You have to give it to Him because He will not take our life unless we surrender it to Him. In Christ we can do all things.
02/27 John 20:28-29
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
BELIEVE
The Lord’s promise to you is that He will be with you. You will never be alone. You do not have to face life by yourself. The Lord Himself will stand with you and equip you to do the next right thing. Come Lord Jesus.
02/28 John 20:30-31
Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
LIFE
Eternal life is difficult for us to comprehend. In fact what we will have is life like Jesus had. We will never be disconnected from the Father. We will be into relationship with Him forever. Come and accept what Jesus is offering. Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and live with Him.
