Meditation Reader, After the climactic and turbulent events of the crucifixion, Luke ends his narrative with the distinctly quiet and dignified description of Jesus' burial, which we'll copy out today. Luke describes Joseph in unusual detail, providing his name, his role and high position in society (member of the council), his character (good and upright), his dissent, where he is from, and his ultimate hope (in God). In so doing, he provides the explanation for why and how he has the...
1 day ago • 2 min read
Meditation Reader, Copying out verses often brings surprises. Like you, I'm familiar with these lines, and it was my recollection that Jesus died and then the curtain in the temple was torn in two. In Luke, as we can see in today's verses, the curtain was torn in two, and then Jesus gave up his life. In both Mark and Matthew, the curtain is torn in two as Jesus gives up his life. It's a small detail (and one that likely has little significance), but slowing down to copy out verses leads you...
2 days ago • 2 min read
Meditation Reader, Today's passage is the longest of the week and will take up to 10 minutes to copy out. Your reward for the effort is an even deeper sense of gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice for you, a sinner deserving of the punishment laid on him. This passage captures all the reactions to Jesus, that we as modern day Christians are familiar with; sneering, mocking, anger, insults, and surrender. The second criminal is a picture of the surrendering soul; an acknowledgment of who Jesus is,...
3 days ago • 2 min read
Meditation Reader, I chose Luke's description of the crucifixion over that of Matthew as it provides more detail on how Jesus communicates with bystanders and the thieves crucified with him. Luke's version more fully conveys the sense of the intensity of the crowd. If you want to maintain continuity with the prior passages, you can copy Matthew's version, which I have linked here. Matthew's version provides additional detail on the earthquake that accompanies Jesus' death. We'll be working...
4 days ago • 1 min read
The Denial of Peter. Gerhard Seghers 1620-25. Meditation Reader, In choosing the passages to copy during this Easter week, I’ve tried to focus, where appropriate, on those that are most personally challenging. Peter’s denial of Christ is one of the most desperate events of this week, but ultimately gives way to an incredible hope. If Peter can stumble this badly and yet be the rock on which Jesus builds his church, then we have a hope that knows no bounds. These lines are challenging to copy...
5 days ago • 2 min read
The Denial of Peter. Gerhard Seghers 1620-25. Meditation Reader, Easter week is the most grueling yet ultimately the most triumphant time in the Christian calendar. The passages we will copy this week reflect that truth. Ahead of you are the most momentous events of the week, with four passages taken from Matthew's Gospel and four from Luke's. This week begins today and tomorrow with Peter's denial and ends with the tomb sealed, guarded, and ultimately defeated on Saturday and Sunday....
6 days ago • 3 min read
Meditation Reader, Next week's writing schedule is quite heavy as we go non stop for eight days from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. So, we'll end this week with a light writing load but a heavy spiritual one. The price of the betrayal, 30 pieces of silver, is notable in Scripture for being the price of a slave or four months wages for the average worker. In the Old Testament, this was the penalty paid by the owner of an Ox if it gored a slave to death; “If the bull gores a male or female...
8 days ago • 2 min read
Meditation Reader, In today's passage, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, the man Jesus has raised from the dead, anoints him with an extremely valuable ointment. When Jesus is crucified and dies, there isn't time for his body to be properly anointed before his hurried burial, so Mary's act of devotion possibly serves two purposes: First, to anoint Jesus for burial, as Jesus notes, and second, to finally trigger Judas's betrayal. Not for the last time in this chapter, Jesus has to correct the...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Meditation Reader, For the next seven days we'll be copying out most of Matthew 26. The chapter that covers the period from the end of Jesus' public teaching ministry, through the last supper, Jesus' arrest and trial and the denial by Peter. Today's passage divides into two complementary scenes; Jesus foretells his arrest and crucifixion, while the chief priests in another location plot to bring that to fruition. The plot follows the prediction, highlighting Jesus' control of the events. It...
10 days ago • 2 min read