Abba, Father
Read: Mark 14:32-42 Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. (v. 36) This must have been one of the most difficult moments in Jesus’ life. Verse 33 tells us that Jesus “began to be greatly distressed and troubled.” Then he […]
The New Covenant
Read: Mark 14:22-26 Take; this is my body . . . This is my blood . . . which is poured out for many. (vv. 22-24) These words are familiar to many of us. We often hear them at worship on Sundays. They are called “the words of institution.” They are spoken as part of […]
You Can’t Fool God
Read: Mark 14:17-21 As they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” (v. 18) When discussing God’s attributes and character, theologians often use the Latin prefix omni, which means “all” or “every.” With reference to God, they […]
A Large Upper Room
Read: Mark 14:12-16 He will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. (v. 15) There was no mistake that it was during the Jewish feast of the Passover that Jesus and his disciples found themselves nearing Jerusalem. Little did the disciples realize that one greater than the lambs being sacrificed in the temple […]
April Prayer Guide 2020
NEPAL — “Nepal is in lockdown due to the Covid-19 situation,” shares Words of Hope’s Nepali ministry leader. “I am staying home with family with a prayerful heart for the world. Please pray that God would intervene in this global phenomenon. Pray for Words of Hope’s global leaders!” Pray that radio outreach will be especially […]
An Ugly Thing
Read: Mark 14:10-11 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. (v. 10) As we prepare for Easter in the weeks ahead, we will consider the final chapters of Mark, and the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. In today’s reading, […]
Hope for the Sinner
Read: 1 John 1:5-10 The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (v. 7) Before I was married, I lived in a small apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey. One day, while looking at the tiles in my shower, I noticed that some mildew had built up and they needed cleaning. I got […]
Hope for the Desperate
Read: Mark 5:25-34 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” (v. 28) Years ago, driving home from a conference in Montreal, the driver of our vehicle fell asleep. We crashed into the car in front of us, slid off of the highway, and landed upside down in a […]
Hope for Bad Days
Read: Romans 8:26-30 All things work together for good. (v. 28) The year 2010 was a challenging year for my family. I was in graduate school, my wife was working full time, and we were often stretched thin financially. One day, while driving home, our car broke down. Overwhelmed, I decided that I needed to […]