Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day five) “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” Thomas “was not with them”(physically, emotionally, spiritually). Grief had flooded his heart and mind. He was devastated at the loss of his Rabbi. He had chosen to be alone. Yet the other disciples don’t leave him to be alone. They go and find him. Spend enough time with him to talk and share what they have experienced. They listen to his skepticism. They invite and welcome him back into their community (gathering). All the while, just saying what they have seen and experienced. Not arguing. Not condemning. And after eight days, he comes back. Maybe it was their joy. Maybe it was their consistent testimony. Maybe it was their kindness. Maybe it was their determination to not let him drift away from the faith. Maybe it was simply their concern for him. Maybe some of “all of the above”. May we love and encourage others like this. Concern. Testimony. Inviting. Listening. Know anyone who is lost or struggling with their faith? Let’s be intentional to love like these disciples.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day five)  Make no mistake, the disciples were afraid. Not just scared, but terrified to the point of being paranoid and debilitated. Trapped behind locked doors (not only keeping Jewish leaders out, but keeping them shut in). Their minds were racing as to the potential dangers they could be facing. A perfect picture of what unhealthy fear does to the heart and soul.

Yet Jesus comes and places Himself in their “midst”. Not on the periphery but among them. What happened to them/in them is amazing. They were filled with joy. With the joy came courage and peace.  With the joy came hope and clarity. With the joy came mission and purpose.

It was a life changing moment brought about by joy. Was there still fear? I suppose. But their joy was greater, and that made all the difference. Oh Lord, fill us with joy.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬

Joy is the serious business of heaven. – C. S. Lewis

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day five)  One of beautiful things about the scriptures is that they portray people as ”normal” people. Even the heroes. They say and do things just like us. They fail. They argue. They miss the point. They succeed. They are afraid. They have courage. They sin. They celebrate. They worship. Just like us. And what we read in our Re:Verse passage this week, is that the disciples and women followers of Jesus are extremely grief stricken. (Just like we would be) It’s further evidence that Jesus really died and was buried. Some saw it and talked about it. The others sensed it from the way people were speaking and acting. And they were filled with grief, shock, and fear.
We all process and discover events and truth differently. Peter sees the empty tomb and grave clothes and is still in a state of grief. John see the same thing and “believes”. Mary sees the same thing and is overcome with grief and confusion.
Yet, all of these people mentioned will come to the point of believing. The Lord will immediately begin to work and speak in ways to convince, convict, and encourage His followers.
How might He do that with us (His followers today)?  Oh Lord, please help us to believe with greater confidence and to follow You with greater clarity and courage!!  Show us!!  Speak to us!! Come near to us!!  Help your people!!

Re:Verse passage – John 19:38-42 (day five)

This morning,  a longer quote by Gavin Ortlund. Wonderful questions and an amazing truth-True obedience is never wasted  .  May we all desire to faithfully serve and follow Christ in obedience (like Joseph and Nicodemus)!!

“One wonders: how would the events of Easter weekend look different apart from the courage of Joseph and Nicodemus? Obviously God could have raised Jesus’s body from another location. Or he could have transported it to the tomb by other means. But God honored the loyalty and sacrifice of these men by having them play a critical role in the gospel narrative.

Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t know that. As Saturday was dawning (Luke 23:54), it would have been easy for them to think that their life was over. They had spent their money and lost much of their status. Their future did not look particularly bright in that moment. But through this very act, God prepared the conditions for the turning point of all history. God took what seemed like a dismal ending and turned it into a glorious beginning.

Friend, does the path of obedience feel to you dark and difficult? Are you in the midst of a long Friday night or lonely Saturday of your own?

Remember that the ultimate Sunday morning — the restoration of all things — is still to come. Like Joseph and Nicodemus, we don’t know what God may do tomorrow with our efforts today. True obedience is never wasted. Who knows what glory might still be reverberating on the new earth, a trillion years from now, because of your difficult obedience today?”

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day five)

“And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.”
He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that thought I was blind, now I see.”

What is it that you know about Jesus, or that you have seen God do in your life?  What experiences have you had with Jesus that have shaped and changed your life?  We call these testimonies. Just simply telling the truth of what has happened in your heart and life. (It’s what John has done in his gospel) Share what you have seen and experienced- things God has done in your life and the lives of others.

Talk about those things early and often. Talk about what you have seen and experienced (what you know). Tell those stories when you get opportunity. They are your testimony. No one can take them away from you. Share so that others might believe too.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:28-30 (day five) “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”

The days right before and after the new year are often filled with introspect and evaluation. As a result, many will make resolutions for the next year- to get back on track or stay on track. One of the remarkable things about Jesus’ earthly life was His ability to keep focused on the mission and purpose for His coming to live on earth. I believe that for Him (and for us) a life centered on and constantly engaged in the Scriptures provided His clarity and courage. (Notice the reference to the scriptures in verse 28) When He says, “It is finished”, He is making a statement regarding His mission and purpose.

May we be resolved to have that same kind of awareness and commitment to God’s mission and purpose for our lives! May we be resolved to be deeply engaged in and dependent on the scriptures to find God’s mission and purpose for our lives!

Re:Verse passage – John 19:17-27 (day five) 

“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”

Even as Jesus is being executed, He is teaching about relationships in the Body of Christ that is being formed. Here, He goes against the customary pattern for His earthly family to take care of their (His) mother. Instead, Jesus is initiating the loving and caring relationships we are to have within the Body of Christ for one another. We are the Family of God. Remember His words (Mark 10) after the encounter with the rich young ruler?  “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”
How we love and care for others in the Family of God matters!!

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day five)

“Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.”

Pilate is an interesting case study. When the Jewish leaders change their argument from political to theological, he becomes (more) afraid. It appears in some sense, the Pilate may actually believe them. That there was a deity to Jesus. What the crowd claimed to be certainly untrue (Jesus was the Son of God), Pilate may have actually found to be true. Because he immediately goes back to Jesus and asks Him where He is from. It is entirely possible that Pilate “believed” that Jesus was the Son of God. But that is where Pilate’s faith journey ended. Dangerously close to conversion. Belief (required) on its own, is not enough. There must also be confession, repentance, surrender, and obedience. A lesson for us all. Has there been real conversion in our hearts and lives?  Belief on its own is dangerously close to conversion.

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬

PRe:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day five)   What do you notice about Pilate in this narrative?  There is unrest in his actions. There is a frantic undertone to his words. There is tension and angst in his decision making. He is caught in the shallow and unstable influence of the world- his position, his power, and his own wisdom and authority.  A visible case-study for seeking the pleasures and treasures of this world.

“The spiritual man (Jesus) is the free man,  and the man who is committed to the things of this world (Pilate) is the man who is (caught) in bondage”.- R Kent Hughes

Want peace and courage in the middle of tension and crisis?  Want strength and assurance in the middle of hardship?  Look to the Lord!  Seek His perspective and presence!  He promises to help us and walk with us through struggles, pain, and suffering!!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬