The One Year New Testament

October 4

John 18:15-32

John 18:15-32

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Reflection

Even as Peter was denying Jesus (John 18:17, 25, 27), Jesus was still loving Peter “to the end” (13:1). Our sins do not separate us from the love of Jesus; Jesus separates us from the love of our sin, together with its guilt and power. In time, Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus will be answered by Jesus’ threefold restoration of Peter (21:15–19).

Peter’s denial is a reminder of the depth of our sinfulness and the need for Christ’s sacrifice. This is something that the self-righteous rulers of Israel were unwilling to accept. They refused to enter the governor’s headquarters because of their rigorous commitment to the demands of the law, not wanting to be defiled before eating the Passover (18:28). However, they were blind to their own corruption as they tried to destroy the One to whom the law points—the only One who fulfills all the demands of the law for us—the true Passover Lamb, Jesus. He took our corruption upon himself and suffered the agony of the cross so that we might know the unhindered delight of our God (Zeph. 3:14–17).

James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Reflection

In this passage James warns those who are wealthy and corrupt that judgment is coming, for they have oppressed their laborers (James 5:4) and have “fattened” themselves in “a day of slaughter” (v. 5). Here we see the biblical theme of God inverting the world’s natural standards of significance and strength (see also 1:9–10).

The supreme instance of this is the gospel itself, in which we learn that God gives favor to the humble rather than those who are proud and think they are powerful and important. This can be true ultimately only because Jesus Christ, the one truly strong and significant human who ever lived, allowed himself to be made weak on behalf of sinners.

Psalm 31:19

Psalm 31:19

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!

Thoughts For Prayer

The self-sacrificing generosity of Jesus for sinners is at the heart of the gospel’s message of God’s love. We do not deserve this love, but it has been given to us nonetheless. Pray that your heart would be changed by the astounding reality that God is for us despite our weakness, and ask him to help you show the same generous grace to the weak and needy.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • April 9, 2021

    Supported Workers: Emily (& Blake) Ackerson

    Country: United States of America

    This month all the Bridges team leaders will gather for a virtual conference. Pray they would be deeply refreshed and encouraged by the Lord during this time as they lead on their respective campuses and faithfully connect with students during these challenging times. Blake has continued to connect with a former Chinese PhD student who became a believer right before returning home. He has found that it is very hard to follow Jesus in his home country. Pray that God would connect him with other believers there and give him the strength and courage to follow him. Pray that God will allow Blake’s team to build partnering relationships with churches who desire to reach international students with the gospel. Praise God for answering prayer for Emily’s recovery. She is experiencing significant improvement through specialized physical therapy.

    The Gambia (Africa). Population: 2,227,413, Believers: 0.8%. Young people have flocked to Banjul (the capital) and are increasingly subject to Western culture at the expense of their traditional values. Pray that God would raise up a new generation of Christian young people who will lead their peers into a lifestyle of godliness.

    From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010, www.operationworld.org