Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. -- John 18:31

The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead.  But they feared the Roman government too much to exact justice themselves.  So they passed Jesus over to Pilate, who wanted no part of it.  While Pilate would have been glad to just let them handle it, he was still a politician, and catered to the crowds.  Later in the conversation, between Pilate and Jesus, Jesus lets him off the hook saying that the ones who handed him over were more guilty of the sin than Pilate was.  So Pilate washed his hands of it, and was able to keep a clear conscious.  There Jesus hung on the cross, dying.  In my mind, I imagine Pilate saying to himself, "look what the people have done"... and the people saying... "look what Pilate has done"...  who takes ownership?  Do we resemble any of the characters in this story?  How quick are we to blame?  How much responsibility do we take for the state of our world?  Our homes?  Our jobs?  Our relationships?  Do we recognize the impact we have on the world and people around us?

Readings:  2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." -- Psalm 119:105

If society was nothing more than a mix of chaotic randomness, we would live like a bunch of bumper cars spinning, turning, reversing, and slamming into each other.  At some point, we would just clog up and not be able to move because everyone's energy would be working against one another.  Shared understandings are important.  We share the understanding of driving on the right side of the road.  We share the understanding that green means go, and red means stop.   These rules and laws that are established are intended to enhance and smooth out our life experience.  But sometimes we don't like to be told what to do, and we live life as though the rules didn't apply to us.  When we live outside of God's word, we live in the dark with no direction.  Don't walk through life blind.  Know that there is a way, and your path can be lit for you.  The fact that you're reading this indicates that you may already know that.

Readings:  2 Samuel 14:1-15:22; John 18:1-24; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 16:8-9

"As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." -- John 17:18-19

Jesus is praying to God in this text for those he will soon leave behind.  He realizes that his time is coming to an end here, but only physically.  To say he was leaving a legacy would be tremendously short of the mark.  While he would no longer be present in body, his presence would be known and experienced through others for thousands of years... and will be, even to eternity.  We carry that presence in us today.  Whenever we give of ourselves sacrificially, and whenever we love unconditionally, we are sharing that which Jesus taught-- we're sharing even Jesus himself.  Give thanks today for those who sacrificed everything that you and I might have freedom.   Give thanks for the life you know because of them.

Readings:  2 Samuel 13:1-39; John 17:1-26; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 16:6-7

A Story: 2 Samuel 12:1-7

The Lord sent Nathan to David.  When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in  a certain town, one rich and the other poor.  The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought.  He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children.  It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms.  It was like a daughter to him.
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him.  Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."


David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!  He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." 


Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!" ...

David couldn't believe it.  Nathan had been referring to him the whole time.  This was because of what David had done to Uriah the Hittite-- sent him to the front lines to be killed, then took his wife, Bathsheba, to be his own.

Times don't change much.  We still become severely indignant over other people's wrongdoings, while remaining blind to our own.

Readings:  2 Samuel 12:1-31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 16:4-5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -- John 15:5

Everything we do is a reflection, an outcome if you will, of the values we hold and the influences in our lives.  If we immerse ourselves in politics, we will be political.  If we immerse ourselves in sports, we will be competitive.  If we immerse ourselves in violence, we will have violent tendencies.  Our output is determined by our input.  If you want peace in your life, immerse yourself in the peace that passes all understanding.  If we are to be Christ to the world, we must be so bound to him that when the world sees us, they see him.  To what branch or branches have you been grafted?  What does the world see when they look at you?  What changes do you need to make in terms of the input in your life?  

Readings:  2 Samuel 9:1-11:27; John 15:1-27; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 16:1-3

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." -- John 14:27

Do you ever feel like life changes so much and so fast that you can't seem to get a handle on it?  Like having a child graduate and prepare to leave the nest... sometimes it keeps you up at night.  You stare at the ceiling fan.  You know that it's good and right, but you've lived the last 18 years having some sense of control.  Then you find yourself at a turn where things are in motion and you can't direct and control them like you once could.  Life can be like that when it changes on you.  But here in John we have the words of Jesus... he was getting ready to leave in a different way... he wanted to reassure his friends and disciples that they could be confident that it was all part of the plan... they couldn't control it... they couldn't stop it.  As much as they didn't want life to change for them in that way, it had to in order for the greater, more lasting change to occur.  Sometimes it's hard to see beyond the corner we're turning.  But we have to have faith that around that corner is something better yet to come.  So I should listen to these words and trust in them... but why can't I sleep?

Readings:  2 Samuel 7:1-8:18; John 14:15-31; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 15:33

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." -- John 13:34-35

One of the most important verses in the New Testament in my opinion.  This is a radical departure from what had been considered belonging-- birthright and race.  Now, the mark of belonging to this tribe was the love each would have for one another.  No longer would righteousness be measured by adherence to the unending list of religious laws, but rather, it would be marked by the nature of one's relationships and the presence of love in them.  As you present yourself to the world, do the people in it know your faith by tattoos, bumper stickers, and symbols on jewelry?  Or do they see Christ in you as you show that love to them?

Readings:  2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32