Scripture: John 20:1-18
"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. . . But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. . . . 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' . . . Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord' . . ."
Hymn: "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands," UMH 319
Martin Luther, 1524, trans. Richard Massie, 1854
". . . So let us keep the festival whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is himself the joy of all, the Sun that warms and lights us.
By his grace he doth impart eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended! Alleluia!"
Prayer:
You're alive! You stand before me, and call me by name. Lord Jesus, you're alive!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
My Lord is alive! Listen, everyone: I have seen the Lord! He is alive!
Showing posts with label gospel of John. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel of John. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Lent: Day 32
Scripture: John 8:2-11
". . .'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' . . .'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.' "
Hymn: "Amazing Grace," UMH 378
John Newton, 1779
". . . ''Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed. . . ."
Prayer:
Alone with you, gracious Jesus, I cannot meet your eyes. No one else remains to condemn me, yet I condemn myself with the memory of my shame.
Yet you lift my face to your gaze, and I find love there! You, who are without sin, have no stones to cast at me. My Judge becomes my Savior. I have been set free!
You expect and trust me to "go and sin no more." Go with me, Lord, and keep me close to you through the power of your Holy Spirit. I want, with all my heart, to keep myself from sin.
". . .'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' . . .'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.' "
Hymn: "Amazing Grace," UMH 378
John Newton, 1779
". . . ''Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed. . . ."
Prayer:
Alone with you, gracious Jesus, I cannot meet your eyes. No one else remains to condemn me, yet I condemn myself with the memory of my shame.
Yet you lift my face to your gaze, and I find love there! You, who are without sin, have no stones to cast at me. My Judge becomes my Savior. I have been set free!
You expect and trust me to "go and sin no more." Go with me, Lord, and keep me close to you through the power of your Holy Spirit. I want, with all my heart, to keep myself from sin.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Lent: Day 27
Scripture: John 10:1-18
". . . I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . I know my own and my own know me, . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep. . . ."
Hymn: "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," UMH 138
Henry W. Baker, 1868
". . . Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me;
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
. . . And so through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever."
Prayer:
My Good Shepherd, Lord Jesus, I seek your protection today. There are many forces of darkness at work around me, and I want to remain your lamb, belonging only to you, loving only you. You are my Gate; you gave your own life for me.
O Lord, you also call your sheep to serve as shepherds in your name, guiding and guarding one another. Make me faithful and loyal, just as you are. Give me an extra measure of your holy love, until it overflows my heart and spills out in love for your people and for all the world.
". . . I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . I know my own and my own know me, . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep. . . ."
Hymn: "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," UMH 138
Henry W. Baker, 1868
". . . Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me;
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
. . . And so through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever."
Prayer:
My Good Shepherd, Lord Jesus, I seek your protection today. There are many forces of darkness at work around me, and I want to remain your lamb, belonging only to you, loving only you. You are my Gate; you gave your own life for me.
O Lord, you also call your sheep to serve as shepherds in your name, guiding and guarding one another. Make me faithful and loyal, just as you are. Give me an extra measure of your holy love, until it overflows my heart and spills out in love for your people and for all the world.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Lent: Day 23
Scripture: John 3
". . . Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. . . . For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. . . ."
Hymn: "And Can It Be, that I Should Gain," UMH 363
Charles Wesley, 1738
"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
. . . No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine . . ."
Prayer:
O Jesus of the Truth, I draw close to you. Like Nicodemus, I sometimes crave the darkness of night so that I might keep my seeking a secret. But you, Master, have promised daylight to me, light that never ends, in God's reign.
Lord, I know that the only condemnation is the one I bring on myself when I choose darkness over light. Hold me close to your side, precious Jesus, and help me choose your light.
". . . Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. . . . For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. . . ."
Hymn: "And Can It Be, that I Should Gain," UMH 363
Charles Wesley, 1738
"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
. . . No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine . . ."
Prayer:
O Jesus of the Truth, I draw close to you. Like Nicodemus, I sometimes crave the darkness of night so that I might keep my seeking a secret. But you, Master, have promised daylight to me, light that never ends, in God's reign.
Lord, I know that the only condemnation is the one I bring on myself when I choose darkness over light. Hold me close to your side, precious Jesus, and help me choose your light.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Lent: Day 9
Scripture: John 15:1-17
". . . This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
Hymn: "Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether" UMH 632
Percy Dearmer, 1931
". . . All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of thee,
That by caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be.
Alleluia! Alleluia! We will serve thee faithfully."
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, it seems to me that all your teachings can be summed up in one active, urgent word: "Love!"
Teach me to love as you loved, O Lord. You gave it all. You set your glory aside and washed our feet. You healed and taught until you were exhausted. You shared a table with the dregs of society, and hung between two common thieves, after forgiving your executioners. You loved!
If they truly will know we're Christians by our love, dear Jesus, then I wonder if anyone can tell for sure about me. Enroll me in your remedial "Love 101" course and put me through your paces. I want to love those whom you love. And Lord Jesus, I want to love you.
". . . This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
Hymn: "Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether" UMH 632
Percy Dearmer, 1931
". . . All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of thee,
That by caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be.
Alleluia! Alleluia! We will serve thee faithfully."
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, it seems to me that all your teachings can be summed up in one active, urgent word: "Love!"
Teach me to love as you loved, O Lord. You gave it all. You set your glory aside and washed our feet. You healed and taught until you were exhausted. You shared a table with the dregs of society, and hung between two common thieves, after forgiving your executioners. You loved!
If they truly will know we're Christians by our love, dear Jesus, then I wonder if anyone can tell for sure about me. Enroll me in your remedial "Love 101" course and put me through your paces. I want to love those whom you love. And Lord Jesus, I want to love you.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Lent: Day 4
Scripture: John 1:1-18
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him . . . And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory . . . full of grace and truth"
Hymn: "Word of God Come Down on Earth," UMH 182
James Quinn, 1969
". . . Word eternal, throned on high, Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heaven to die, crucified for our salvation,
Saving Word, the world restoring, heal the world by our sin broken."
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God who lived our life and died our death and rose again so that we might all live, speak to me. Let my silence now be filled with your voice, speaking God's truth to my heart. I listen and long for you.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him . . . And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory . . . full of grace and truth"
Hymn: "Word of God Come Down on Earth," UMH 182
James Quinn, 1969
". . . Word eternal, throned on high, Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heaven to die, crucified for our salvation,
Saving Word, the world restoring, heal the world by our sin broken."
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God who lived our life and died our death and rose again so that we might all live, speak to me. Let my silence now be filled with your voice, speaking God's truth to my heart. I listen and long for you.
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