Danny Panter

Blessing

PRe:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day six)

The King of Moab had commissioned Balam to curse the Israelites, but God wouldn’t have it; instead he couldn’t help but bless them. (Numbers 22-24)

The words spoken in these five verses accomplish the same thing. While the soldiers intended to mock Jesus, they proclaimed him king. While the religious leaders, declared him guilty, Pilate couldn’t help but proclaim his innocence. And when he finally presented Jesus to them, he unknowingly prophesied “Look, here is the man,” a veiled reference to his incarnation.

Jesus is the true Israel; faithful and righteous.

And by his stripes we are healed.

He’s Got the Whole World

Re:Verse passage – John 18:33-40 (day six)

His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate, the governor, went out to them…John 18:28b-29a

The Apostle John captures significant drama for us in this narrative. The religious leaders, worried about being defiled, especially in light of the Passover festivities, where unwilling to risk missing out by entering Pilate’s courtyard. This forced Pilate to go out to them several times in the process of questioning Jesus and rendering a verdict. Between chapters 18 and 19 Pilate alternates at least six times between Jesus and the religious leaders.

John is intent on capturing more than drama, but aims to illustrate that Jesus is a whole world problem. He more than a Jewish problem, or a gentile problem; the whole world is intertwined in its culpability. Furthermore, the whole world must respond to the Truth; it has no choice.

A Little Self-awareness Goes a Long Way

Re:Verse passage – John 18:15-18, 25-27 (day six)

If Peter teaches us anything, it is that we are terrible predictors of our own behavior and choices. Even though Jesus told him what would happen in advance, and even though Peter was adamant that he would never abandon Jesus, in fact he insisted he would die for him before denying him, when put in an unexpected situation Peter did the unexpected. Not once but three times he denied he was a disciple of Jesus.

Here’s the point, don’t take your sinful flesh for granted. You can make wonderful and wild proclamations (like Peter), and still fall flat on your face. When it comes to your own sinful nature, be self-ware, be watchful, be ready, be sober minded, be humble. You can never have too many safeguards or accountability.

John Mark

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:7-14 (day six)

…and so does my son Mark. 1 Peter 5:13

Most scholars agree this verse refers to John Mark, the very same that abandoned Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary journeys. Paul was so put out, he refused to travel with John Mark again. Yet, here you see him again as a protege to Peter. Paul would even later affirm John Mark (2 Timothy 4:11).

John Mark is the perfect case study for standing firm in God’s grace (1 Peter 5:9,12). At first it seems he doesn’t have what it takes when things get challenging, but the rest of the story paints a different picture. Through those challenges, along with other trials I’m sure, John Mark perseveres, grows, and bears lasting fruit, eventually writing the Gospel According to Mark.

Don’t count yourself out because you’ve stumbled here or there; get back up and stand firm in God’s grace! He has a purpose for you yet!

Serve the Lord with Gladness

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:1-6 (day six)

Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2

God is gravely concerned about the quality of your leadership. I’m writing to pastors, or any other kind of shepherding church leader. The Psalmist gets to the heart of the matter, serve the Lord with gladness!

Serving the Lord from a dutiful heart honors the self, not God; it exalts the human will, not a magnificent and glorious God.

BUT a glad heart rejoices and delights in God. The overflow of a heart like that can’t help but lead a shepherd to gladly give himself away in service to others.

Blessing Now

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 4:12-19 (day six)

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14

That’s a strange thought, isn’t it? It’s not new; Peter heard Jesus teach the same thing, AND he experienced it first hand. This blessing, according to Peter, is not only a future reward but is experienced, in part, in the present because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. In other words Christians endure suffering not only by clinging to promises of future glory in Jesus, but through God’s gracious Spirit in the present.

I think the Spirit of God blesses us in suffering by giving us glimpses of the beauty and majesty of Jesus. Steven, the first Christian martyr, by the Holy Spirit saw the throne room of God while being stoned. He was blessed for the glorious Spirit of God rested upon him.

What a wonderful promise, and what marvelous grace! We are not left alone in our suffering, but when we do, we see and savor Jesus more fully though the Holy Spirit.

Shift in Perspective

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 4:1-11 (day six)

“The end of all things is near.”

I imagine when that rings true, it has a way of putting everything into perspective. That’s what Peter was doing after all, helping these churches put things in proper perspective.

How about you? If you were convinced the end of all things was near…let’s say, in a month, would your perspective change? Your priorities shift? Would you pray more earnestly? Would you zero in on your most important relationships? Would you try to help others along? Would you be generous? Would you live for what mattered most?

See, that’s what Peter is trying to do here.

Patience

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:18-22 (day six)

¹⁹So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—²⁰those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat.

Have you ever wished God would hurry things along? Or wonder why he delays his judgement? I imagine Noah felt the same way. It likely took he and his family around 40 years to build the ark, all the while his neighbors became increasingly volatile and wicked.

What we feel as slowness, is actually a demonstration of God’s patient grace towards unbelievers. Paul wrote, “Don’t you know, God’s kindness (delay of judgment) is intended to lead you to repentance?”

So while we may ache for Jesus’ return, may we also recognize God’s desire for all men and women to come to saving faith. All the more reason to do good in the face of suffering.

Responsive

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:8-17 (day six)

There’s a difference between reacting and responding. Reacting often lacks preparation, awareness, and mindfulness, whereas responding is preceded by anticipation and readiness.

That’s Peter’s aim, readiness. He doesn’t want these churches surprised by suffering, he wants them to expect it, and be ready for it when it comes. Peter wants them to do more than survive, more than grin and bear it, but he really wants them ready to engage others with hopefulness in the midst of suffering.

When suffering comes that’s our cue that God is up to something in the lives of those around us, and he plans to use our readiness so they can see and hear about the hope we have in Jesus.

Are you responding or only reacting to life’s circumstances?

Good, Good Word

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day six)

³²Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Romans 8:32

We all get pretty anxious reading texts like 1 Peter 3:1-7. I’m a father of three daughters, and I get anxious. There is a high level of sensitivity when our autonomy and equality feels constrained. It can feel like something is being taken, or for some it feels like they have always been without.

What gives me comfort as I read hard texts is reminding myself that God is always a giver and never a taker. He never robs us or strips us of our humanity or dignity; he never takes away our joy, or our purpose. No, God’s desire is that we flourish as his image bearers; men and women, husbands and wives together.

I’m reminded I can always trust that God’s Word is good.