Acts 2:41-47 Church Members Were Generous and the Church Grew

 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What can we learn from the early church?  One thing we should not count on even though everything is possible for God and the signs and wonders performed by the apostles.  This is because this is a gift given to them by Christ to authenticate themselves as His representative and to build up the early church.  As you can see, as many as 3000 souls per day were added to the church.  The important lesson is what follows: people were selling their assets to provide for the poor and meet their physical needs.  They had the gift of charity.
After meeting their physical needs it put them in a position to meet their spiritual needs and the church grew accordingly.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, let none of us who belong to You be tight with our possessions.  As You freely give to us, let us freely give back to glorify You for the salvation won for us.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Acts 2: 37-40 The In gathering - Repentance and What That Means To Us

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

We have to remember our battle in life is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, and rulers over dark places.  Before a person can be saved, they like the ones in today's reading need to be "pierced in the heart" which our conviction of our own sinful selves.  What should we do the sinner asks:
We must repent of our sins which means we must agree with God about our sins. Sometimes we cannot help ourselves from sinning, but cannot quit agreeing with God about it.  This is what Paul meant when he said, The things that I want to do I do not do, but the things that I hate, I find myself doing.  Therefore it is no longer I that sin, but the sin that dwells within me.  In other words, Paul's inner-man desires to fulfill the Law, but sometimes his body cannot do it, but his mind has been given over to God and He heartily agrees with God.  This is called repentance

Daily Prayer:  Lord, reassure me that if I have repent my sins are forgiven. That does not mean that my flesh can overtake its desire to sin, but quench it when it arises so that may overcome the battle that dwells within me between worldliness and godliness.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Acts 2:22-36 In Light of the Resurrection, How Should We Live?

 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—  this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.  For David says of Him,

‘I saw the Lord always in my presence;
For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
 ‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
 ‘You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,  he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.  Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.  For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The greatest king in Israel was King David.  Peter reminds his brethren of the covenant God made with 

David that from his seed, the Savior would emerge.  He also reminds them that David prophesied about this Son and that this Son was indeed the Son of God for whom David spoke.  He convicted his countrymen and reminded them that it was this predicted son of David whom they crucified.  So what can they do now?  Repent and turn from their ways and place their hope in the resurrected Son of God so that they can be saved.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, call us to a life of faith.  Lead us by still waters so that though we walk through the Valley of Death, we will not fear, because You are with us.  Amen.

Acts 2:15-22 The Grounds for our Hope

For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;  but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
Even on My bond slaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

In the Book of Acts, Peter gives two sermons.  Yesterday the crowd was amazed when Peter was speaking in tongues.  At that time, some instead of crediting God said this man is drunk.  Here Peter rebukes these namesayers by declaring the power of the Risen Christ.  He also said that this event, the coming of the Holy Spirit, is that same event that was prophesied by the prophet Joel who declared that God would pour our His Spirit on mankind.  This also marks the beginning of the last days awaiting the Second Coming of Christ for the redemption of the saved and the judgment of all anti-christs.  He concludes that who ever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Daily Prayer:  Christ Jesus, because of this Sermon I know that  I am saved because have called on Your name alone as my grounds for salvation.  Grant the wisdom and faith needed to readers of this piece to believe in You and trust in You for eternal life.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Acts 2:1-13 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “ Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Jesus earlier told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem for 50 days after His ascension.  Jesus was sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit, not only to be with them but in them.  This is what He means when He says I am sending you power.  So the word "Pentecost" means fiftieth as in the fiftieth day which is also the birth day of the church were people did not need to be Jews to be saved.  As a matter of fact is made salvation in belief in Christ alone.  This is why Jesus said no man comes to the Father except through me.  And here the opposite of the Tower of Babel occurs.  In The Tower of Babel, God confused the languages of the people so that they would scatter and spread the word of God.  Here, he unites them by every man understanding the gospel as spoken by the disciples by hearing it in their own tongue.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, stir up the Spirit in me to do good works in Your name.  Let me not become tangled by my sin, but instead let me raise up to to well in my response to You.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Acts 1:15-26 The Disciples Regather As The 12

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.  He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.  Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.  Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen  to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”  Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

In the study of numerology, the number "12" is the number of governmental perfection.  It was not specifically for this reason that Peter lead the discussion to choose one to replace Judas Iscariot, but it was as was written in the Psalms    Nevertheless, another eye-witness to the work and the deeds of Jesus was chosen and according to the text the choice was that of the Holy Spirit.  In terms of canonocity, in order to be an apostle of Jesus Christ one must be an eye witness so that the testimony is true.  So the disciples are gathered once again as the 12 disciples of Jesus, but in the days to come another witness to the Risen Christ will be introduced who is Paul of Tarsus.

Daily Prayer:  Most Holy Jesus, just as the disciples in Jerusalem depended on the movement of the Holy Spirit, let the I who am a disciple of Jesus Christ receive similar leading today.  Make me sensitive to His movements so that I can be sure of His guidance.  In Your Holy name I pray Amen.

Acts 1:8-14 You Will Receive Power

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.  When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.  They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

It is important for us to remember that Jesus commissioned the disciples and us to be His witnesses in the concluding imperative in the Gospel of Matthew.  Now Jesus is equipping the saints to carry out His command.  He is doing this by the sending of the Spirit of God.  It is by the work of the Spirit that men can overcome the power of the world and live out their lives, even now, in the Kingdom of Heaven which Jesus brought to us by making God to live and dwell among us. Our response is to believe in the Son of God and our duty is to proclaim Him until He comes again, so that on That Day He may declare to You "Well done, good and faithful servant," instead of Him saying to many, "Depart from Me, I never knew you."

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, lift up my spirit to be a spirit of faith and pride in You and all that You have done and are capable of doing.  Empower the saints to acknowledge You before men so that You will acknowledge us before Your Father who is in Heaven.  Though Heaven is His home, the Kingdom of Heaven is with us even now.  I thank You Jesus, for the eternal life You have given me.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Acts 1:4-7 Baptism of the Spirit as told by John the Baptist

 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

These verses have much to say about your theology and the expectations you have for your life.  Some denomination say that it is through the sacraments we are saved, that is through water baptism and through Holy Communion.  These are the means of grace for these Christians.  They define this as Jesus' chosen method of reaching out to the chosen.  Others hold that it is by faith we are saved by grace and not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not from man, less no man may boast.  The latter teaching places its full hope in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His role as a substitute for our sin.  When this faith is given, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and the person is changed as the Spirit is the life giving Godhead.
My interpretation is the latter because before Jesus's resurrection, people were coming for water baptism, 
but after Jesus resurrection, men were "born again" by the life giving power of the Spirit and lives were changed.  Sacraments are  good and we are commanded to recognize them, but they are not the sole life giving agent of the Savior.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, if a meal and water baptism were enough, You would not have had to drink from the cup Your Father gave You.  But You did drink from the cup for our sake so that we could live and not die and so that we may spend eternity with you.  For where You are so shall I be also.  Amen and Amen.

John 21:20-25 What Was Said About Jesus & When Jesus Comes

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Two important points are made here.  In Jesus' first coming, He inaugurated the New Covenant, the time in which we live. Every other time was awaiting His coming.  Now that Jesus has lived and dwelt among us and we have beheld His glory and He has died to risen again to pay the penalty for our sins, we now anxiously await His second coming.  Anybody who loves Jesus has invested themselves in His return.  But take it from me who desired to see Him face to face, do not  lose focus of His mission and until He returns live by groing in faith and in the knowledge of Him.  Amen.

John 21:18-19 Follow Me!

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” These words Jesus spoke to Peter and was also they are meaningful to Peter.  He who is a partaker in Christ Jesus is a partaker in His glory and suffering.  That's what is means to be a follower of someone.  A disciple is not greater than his master. What the master does, his emissary does also.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, in my life I too have had  suffering some of which is because I am a follower of You.  Let me not be fearful in the time of tribulation, but instead stand with my Savior as   He has already stood for me.  In Jesus name I pray Amen. 

John 21:15-17 Jesus Reinstates Peter

 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

These important verses demand our reference to the Greek for proper understanding.  Remember that Peter had denied knowing Jesus prior to this event.  Jesus had been crucified for the forgiveness of sins and now the resurrected Jesus appears to Peter and asks Peter, Do you love me sacrificially (agape love) more than these your brethren? Jesus was asking if his love was greater than that of the other disciples.  Peter, not wanting to misrepresent himself answer (interpreted from the Greet)  You know I am Your friend.  So Jesus lowers his request to Peter when He asks Do you love me?  (leaving off more than the other disciples).  Peter answers You I am Your friend.  So finally Jesus comes to the place where Peter is when Jesus asks him Peter am I your friend?  Peter is embarrassed and replies, Lord you know all things, Yes I am Your friend.  Jesus replies, "Go and feed my  sheep.)  Meaning Jesus invites him back into the ministry.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, let us learn and be forgiven for our mistakes.  Let us live our live in You so that we may dwell in Your house forever.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 21:1-11 Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus, Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.  The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

When the disciples first met Jesus, they were doing what they normally do: fishing.  Now Jesus who took control of their lives had been crucified, but had made two prior appearances to these men as the ascended Lord.  Today they have gone back to fishing, but had caught nothing.  Jesus comes to them where they are and asks them what He already know which is  how much have you caught.  They reply nothing and didn't recognize their Savior.  Jesus suggests that they cast the nets one more time and the nets fill with fish.  In the mean time, Jesus is cooking fish from the shore.  Then John, the disciple that Jesus loved, recognizes Jesus and they come to the shore to dine with Him.   It is as the Scriptures say: "Behold I stand at the door and knock.  He who opens the door for me, I will come in and sup with Him"  When Jesus knocks, do you answer?

Daily Prayer:  Most holy Lord, train my senses to recognize You when You come to the door of my heart and knock.  Let me not be concerned with the troubles of this world, but instead invest my time and hope in You.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 20:24-29 "Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen, Yet Believe

 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

This is the challenge of the New Testament Church, which is to place our souls into the hands of our Savior who we have never seen.  Some people are more able to do this  than others.  Some are so reliant upon themselves alone they exclude Jesus as Savior, because they treat themselves as their own savior.  Others have observed and rightly judged their sinful condition and understand that they are a sinner in need of a Savior.  This one is the one that Jesus declares is blessed.  Though they haven't seen, yet they believe.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, bless each of us with sufficient faith so that we can believe.  Let us not trust the sinful and self centered hands of any man, but instead let us trust in You who is the beginning and the end in whom no power is lacking.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 20:19-23 Keys Of The Kingdom

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

It has crossed my mind that when Jesus did His earthly ministry, He began it at the age of 30 and less than three years later He was crucified.  How could he accomplish as much as he needed in such a short period of time?  The answer: through the church.  The text tells us that Jesus sent his disciples and equipped them with the Holy Spirit.  He also ordained  them to forgive sins as needed but  to deny the unrepentant sinner.
Naturally He gave them the power of discernment and the Holy Spirit leads them and reproves them.  And has it has been, it continues to be the Church of Jesus Christ until He returns.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus thank you for including me in Your church.  But not only me, but all who profess You as Lord and Savior.  Keep the church unified so that the body of Christ is not divided and we represent you in the world.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 20:1-18 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb  and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”  At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Have you ever wondered that once you die and receive a glorified body, will anybody recognize you?  In this text, the disciples and Mary's judgment were confused because even though Jesus had warned them that He must die at the hands of the ungodly, that He would raise again from the dead in three days.  In today's lesson, this is exactly what happens.  The angels try to prompt her not to look for the living among the dead, but it wasn't until Jesus said, "Mary" that she instantly knew she was speaking to her Savior.  She recognized His voice which is why Jesus told the Pharisees that I call my sheep and they know my voice.  So too, one can expect in our life ever after that our voice will be what our loved ones will recognize.

Daily Prayer:  Lord and Savior, I listen for Your voice because You are the Good Shepherd and my shepherd.  You keep me from evil and have forever forgiven my sins.  You have plans for me, many of which I as of yet do not know.  But because of my love and trust in You, I do not worry, because I know You have the final say in my life.  Amen.

John 19:16-19 & 25-30 It Is Finished!

So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.  There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.  Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  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.After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”  A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.  Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

When Jesus said "It is finished" what did he mean?  Jesus was sent into the world expressly to make a way for humankind to have everlasting life.  Yet not all people are saved, only those who receive Him as Savior.
But the work the Father had sent Jesus to do which involves total fulfillment of the law and to be the sacrafice by giving substitution death for the remission of sin.  

John 19:4-15 "I Find No Guilt In Him

Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.  Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”  So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”  The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;  and he entered into the Praetorian again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.  So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”  Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”  So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

It is hard to express the hatred the Jews showed toward Jesus Christ.  They despised Caesar and the Roman occupation of their land, yet when the beloved Messiah comes to His people they declare "crucify Him," and pledge allegiance to Caesar and their only king.  The Law was given to Moses for the Children of Israel to have a guide for holy living.  Yet they break the Law to destroy the  Son of Man.  Even Rome found no guilt in Him. Many Christians say that "all sinners" crucified Jesus doe to our sinful nature.  No
not all sinners crucified Jesus, only the Jews as the gentiles were willing to set Him free.  God had hardened their heart and to a large extent with some exceptions, their hearts remain hard today, but the day is coming when they will recognize Him for who He is which the Christ crucified, and the Son of God.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, uphold me in my faith in You and Your finished work on the Cross.  You have freed me to join You as a son of God and that will be my testimony to the world.  In your holy name I pray Amen.

John 18:28-40 Jesus Before Pilate "What is Truth?"

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorian, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorian so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.  Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”  They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”  So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,”  to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorian, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”  Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”  Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.  But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

When the crowd preferred the release of a known robber than releasing the Son of God, what can be said about this mindset?  Jesus said it correctly when He said "My kingdom is not of this world."  Satan and His followers make it their priority to destroy the Prince of Peace and bearer of the truth.  The world does not know Jesus, but His followers hear his voice and answer to him.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay down his life for those who trust in him.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You gave the only acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of my sins and the blessing of everlasting life.  Let me now live my life for you so that others come to trust you with their would and their eternal destiny.  In your holy name I pray Amen.

John 18:15-27 Call On The Name Of The Lord And Be Saved

Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.  Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”  Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.  Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”  When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”  Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”  So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”  One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”  Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Can you imagine striking Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God?  Yet strike Him and flogged Him beyond recognition they did, but Jesus said that any sin committed against the Son of Man will be forgiven him.
But any denial of the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come?  Why you ask?  Because the death and resurrection of Jesus covers the sins of men, but the denial of the Holy Spirit who is the One who imparts new life prevents the spiritual birth which is necessary to be reconciled to God.  All men are created for everlasting life.  Those who partner with Jesus will live with Him forever.  Those who are not born again of the spirit will die and then die again forever.  This is the Word of the Lord.

Daily Prayer:  "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not the Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of my salvation and uphold me with Thy free spirit."  Amen.

John 18:10-14 Jesus Is Arrested!

Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.  So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,  and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.  Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

God's plan for Jesus is starting to unfold here as Jesus who is a man of peace is arrested without a crime or any violence.  When Peter truck out in His defense, Jesus advised him not to love by the sword, because to live by the sword is to die by it.  There were so many times they could have seized Jesus as he routinely taught in the synagogues, but instead they seized him in a remote place where the people would not rebel, because the people held Jesus to be a prophet.  This is the cup Jesus was given to drink for my salvation and yours.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, before I was born, You made way to take away my sins and remember them no more.  How great is Your love, grace, and mercy!  Give me this day the ability to model you in my life.  Not that I am perfect, but in You and can be perfect because You are perfect.  Let this be evident to everyone I come in contact with so that they can notice that I am affected by You.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.