March 21st One Year Bible Readings - Good Friday

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 KJV

~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
Numbers 32:1-33:39 ~ Luke 4:31-5:11 ~ Psalm 64:1-10 ~ Proverbs 11:22
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) ~

Old Testament - Today in Numbers chapter 32 verse 23 we read this strong warning from Moses to the Reubenites & Gadites about their promise to fight with Israel and their desire to settle in the land east of the Jordan river: "But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the LORD, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."  I think this is powerful for us to keep in mind in our lives today as well!  It's important for us to keep our word!  If we're not sure we can keep our word, we shouldn't give it.  But if we do give our word, and we fail to keep it, we have sinned.  And I do believe the sin will still find us out today.  How are you at keeping your word these days?  Is there an area of your life where you gave your word and you now are wavering?  Can you keep your word in that area?  Will you pray to God to give you strength to do so?  Let us not be people who fail to keep our word or who stretch the truth!

Chapter 33 is a great re-cap of Israel's journey!  Check out a great map of Israel's journey and commentary at this link.  And another full sized map of Israel's journey is at this link, and a smaller sized map is below:

New Testament - In Luke chapter 5 verses 10 & 11 we read - "From now on you'll be fishing for people!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus."  Can you imagine being one of the two disciples in this image below?  If you were called by Jesus to stop your "work" that you are doing now and instead work to bring people closer to God, would you do so?  Can you imagine yourself today being like these disciples and leaving everything and following Jesus?

Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 4's readings today titled "Deity Confronts the Demons" is at this link and commentary on chapter 5's readings today entitled "How to Hook a Fisherman" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 64 verse 10 is beautiful - "The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him."  Do you consider God a shelter for your life?  When storms come into your life, do you find shelter in God?  How about the Bible?  Is the Bible a sort of shelter in your life?  Do you find refuge in the Bible?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 64 titled "A Prayer for Protection from the Conspiracy of Terror" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs 11:22 today teaches us - "A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout."  Well, I looked at the TNIV to see if "woman" might be changed to "person", but it wasn't.  I think this Proverb can apply to men too.  I think we are all beautiful, as sons & daughters of God!  We are made in the image of God.  And when we lack discretion in our God-given lives, then we indeed are like this image below!  :)

Worship God: Luke chapter 5 reminds me of Steven Curtis Chapman's great song "For the Sake of the Call."  Here's a nice video someone put together to this song:

Will you abandon it all for the sake of the call?  Click here for the call! 

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on our readings in Luke today, do you believe that Jesus still calls his followers to be fishers of people today?  Are you a fisher of people?  How are you fishing for people for the Lord in your life today?  What are some ways that Jesus might be calling you to fish for people today? Also, as it is Good Friday, are you doing anything special on this day of remembrance of our Lord's death on the cross for our sins?  Do you go to a church service?  Watch a play or a movie?  Or just take some alone time to remember what Jesus did to pay your debts on the cross?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Love, Trust and Obey Jesus,
Mike

Comments

[John A.]

Since it is Good Friday - I am going to depart from readings and have a comment on the Cross.

DARKNESS

Luke 23:44-45b
"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining."

1) Darkness was taught by the Jewish Rabbi's as symbolic of judgment. At the cross, the Father's requirement for an accounting for every sin ever committed by mankind and ever to be committed was met by our Lord, Jesus Christ. (People argue whether Christ died for all sins or just the sins of believers.)

2) In Amos 8:9-10 there will be another day in the future when the sun is darkened at noon.

"In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.... I will make that time like mourning for an only son
and the end of it like a bitter day."

Interesting reference to the mourning for an only son. The Father was not a passive stoic observer at the cross. God, the Father, was in anguish and mourned like any parent would at the inflicted death of their child.

3) Lastly, remember this was the passover time. Remembering the exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt. The 9th plague was inky darkness over the land, and was followed by the final plague of the death of the first-born in every Egyptian household.

See any parallels????

[Heard these yesterday on a Stephen Davey sermon broadcast on BBN.]

[John A.]

Matthew 27:46
"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Despite many sermons that say Jesus was abandoned or separated from the cross, I have never believed it, and WILL never believe it. There are many repected pastors and men of God that believe Jesus was abandoned at the cross. However, I believe God, the Father was there just as he was at Katrina, the World Trade Center, and at Auschwitz, etc.

The problem that arises if one believes in the "forsaken/abandoned" position and that God would do that to Christ:

what in the world would keep the Father from doing that to us (believers)? If God could abandon Christ who was perfectly submissive and in the Father's Will, we who are less perfect (even though saved) could (and should?) have it happen all the time. It presents a troubling picture of (at least at times) a distant and impersonal God. What a horrible feeling to have about the Father. In our darkest times in our walk we cannot be sure that God is hearing us and we would feel all alone in our battles and walk. If one is in this camp - it must have a devastating effect at some point in time (or times) in their prayer life.

My reasons for not believing in any separation between the Father and Son are succinctly listed here:

http://www.answers.org/theology/forsaken.html

My favorite reasons revolve around passages in the OT.

Psalm 22
The common Jewish way of designating an entire psalm was to refer to the opening lines, since the psalms were not numbered at that time. Jesus did not believe God had forsaken him: this would be lack of faith, which is sin (Romans 14:23), and Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was the Teacher ever to the end - by citing the first line of the Psalm Jesus was telling those at the cross to look at the Psalm and see how he fulfilled it as the Messiah. I do not believe Jesus ever thought He was truly separated from God (perhaps distanced, but never separated).

In that same Psalm in verse 24 it says as much:

Psalm 22:24
"For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help."

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Notice the Surely...yet...but connections.

Isaiah was saying in these three clauses the TRUTH...Prophetically Man's misinterpretation of the cross...TRUTH

Jesus was not smitten by God. Jesus laid down His life voluntarily. This was not a moment of anger by God or a time of wrath. It was judgment necessary for the salvation of mankind. The cross was actually a place where the Glory of God was greatly shown as His plan unfolded before the angels.

[luciano Del Monte]

thanks mike for providing the podcast on the one year bible.

[poetryman69]

May you experience the hope that lives in faith

And the joy of a spirit filled life

Joyous Easter blessings to one and all.

---klqtzzzz

[Lisa]

Every year at this time I think about the history of events inclusive and surrounding what is commonly celebrated as Easter.

I am certainly not against the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, no sir! So what is the Easter message really? Is the death of our Lord really affiliated with what we call or celebrate as Easter, or should we be affiliating it with what God our Father specifically has chosen as a feast day regarding the Passover?

The King James is the only version of the bible that (as far as I know) uses the term "Easter" which is found in the book of Acts 12:4. In most other translations of the same scripture, "Passover" is used.

When Jesus says - do this in rememberance of me which is the partaking of the bread and wine, then why do we celebrate the way we do?

Comments are welcomed, as I continue to search for the truth!

[Sam]

Last night (Thursday) the church I attend celebrated the Last Supper w/an Agape Meal & Communion.

All glory to our Father who are in Heaven and his Gracious gift of salvation for All, Amen!

[Jim]

Our family is going to read the crucifixion story and then we are going to watch "Passion of the Christ". Because of His precious shed blood on Calvary,all three members of my family are not only saved but working in the ministry. I have a men's ministry on a MySpace site(Lion and Lamb Ministries),my wife is an administrator in a Christian chatroom(Jeannies chatPlace)and my daughter has just started to college to become a missionary,she is also one of the team-leaders of Well of Hope Ministries.
Everything I am today or ever will be I owe it all to Jesus,I was headed down the road to a sinner's hell but I met a man on that road who changed everything,His name is JESUS CHRIST,my LORD and SAVIOR!!!!!!
I'm reminded of a song that Bill Gaither wrote:

"Had it not been for a place called Mount Calvary,
Had it not been for an old rugged cross,
Had it not been for a Man called JESUS,
Then forever my soul would be lost"

Thank you Lord for the sacrifice that you made for me and my family,help me to never cause you to wonder why you did, Your Servant, Jim

[Vance]

Though this is not part of the daily reading, I just felt this meditation on Psalm 51 is appropriate, as this is Good Friday.

It is good for us... but we need to be also quiet and somber to honor the One Who willingly poured out His life for you and I.

I obtained my meditation from this wonderful website: "www.studylight.org"

Psalm 51 (NKJV)
16
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.

TREASURY OF DAVID – CHARLES SPURGEON
"A broken heart" is an expression implying deep sorrow, embittering the very life; it carries in it the idea of all but killing anguish in that region which is so vital as to be the very source of life.

So excellent is a spirit humbled and mourning for sin, that it is not only a sacrifice, but it has a plurality of excellences, and is preeminently God's sacrifices.

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. A heart crushed is a fragrant heart.

NOTES
Verse 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, etc. When speaking of thankfulness, we might have expected him to say, "a joyful heart, or a thankful heart," but instead of that he says, "a contrite heart."

For the joy of forgiveness does not banish sorrow and contrition for sin: this will still continue. And the deeper the sense of sin, and the truer the sorrow for it, the more heartfelt also will be the thankfulness for pardon and reconciliation. The tender, humble, broken heart, is therefore the best thank offering. J. J. Stewart Perowne.

Verse 17. It may be observed that the second word, (xkbn) which we render CONTRITE, DENOTES THE BEING BRUISED AND BROKEN TO PIECES, AS A THING IS BRUISED IN A MORTAR (See Numbers 11:8), and therefore, in a moral sense, signifies such a weight of sorrow as must wholly crush the mind without some powerful and seasonable relief. Samuel Chandler.

Numbers 11 (NKJV)
8
The people went about and gathered it, GROUND IT ON MILLSTONES OR BEAT IT IN THE MORTAR, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS
Verse 3-4,11-12,17.
Scripture estimate of sin.
Personal accountability -- My sin.
Estimated as hateful to God -- Against thee, etc.
Sin estimated as separation from God.
Spiritual restoration. First step -- Sacrifice of a broken spirit. Last step -- Spirit of liberty. Thy free spirit. F. W. Robertson.

Vance

[Jim]

I enjoy the reading the blogs on the daily readings. It helps with my meditation on God's word by seeing others thoughts and perspectives. Every Easter I make sure to reflect on the reading of the Ressurection of Jesus, my favorite being in the Book of John. Mary in the garden, seeing the stone rolled away and Jesus' body is no longer there, she approaches who she thinks is a gardener asks if he took the body and where it is so she can go get it. Then when he says her name 'Mary' she realizes it is Jesus she is talking to and the utter joy in her reaction. This particular story within the Ressurection is my favorite and I really can't say why. Just a thought. Happy Easter all.

[John]

Just last night my wife and I were talking at dinner and I relayed to her how I thought we needed to be like Joshua... and have a mission in mind... We are not to be sitting idly by watching the world and satan take souls to damnation... We are to be in the battle... On GODs team... doing the work of the LORD... Rescuing souls... Introducing them to our Passover Lamb... The King of Glory!... Who is this King of Glory! The LORD strong and Mighty! JESUS is HIS name!

Glory... have a Blessed First Fruits, this weekend...

[Shane]

IMHO, the ultimate Good Friday Psalm is Psalm 22.

[Laura]

Good Friday
Here they crucified him, and with him two others John 19:18. As we mourn the death of our savior and celebrate His resurrection this Easter Sunday, I have a poem to share, along with some verses. The poem was written by a lady from our church and was in our Good Friday Service bulleton. The poem is about experiencing the crucifiction through the eyes of Mother Mary. The verses were those used in our service.

"Crucified My Lord"

They crucified my Lord today, On a hill for all to see, I saw the nail prints in his hands, The blood gush from his side, Why did they do this to my Lord, I don not now the why. He taught us goodness, kindness,love, He taught us how to live. Did they not see the good in Him, As he hung there oh so still? I know he died there for our sins, So that we might all be free. But oh the price he had to pay, To save lost souls like me.

I thought the poem was beautiful and a wonderful example of the feelings that those close to Jesus must of felt.

Isaiah 53:1-6

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of the ground. He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquanted with grief. And as one from whom others hide their faces, he was despised and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and affliced. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquiteies; Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

John 19:37

They will look on the one they have pierced. Jesus died as the lambs for the Passover meal were being slain. Not a bone was to be broken in these sacrificial lambs (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12) Jesus the Lamb of God, was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Have a blessed and wonderful Easter