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In the ancient Roman Empire, the Romans used various tortures and terror in order to control various colonies of the empire. Of the different tortures, crucifixion was the most excruciating (the word excruciating comes from the word “crucifixion”) of them all – with medical precision to avoid any major artery, the Romans nailed the completely naked person on big wooden cross, slowly draining the his blood, usually for days, when the person would scream and moan in pain. They put these crosses high on mountains and also near city gates, to put them on display to send a public message. This, my dear brothers and sisters, is how Jesus has chosen to die for us.

As we will all went through the scriptures of crucifixion at the Good Friday service earlier today, we will read an article on Good Friday by Haug & Walker instead:

Devotion Reading: Good Friday, “Journey to the Cross” by Haug & Walker

Today is called Good Friday, which is not really good because “good” is too neutral a term.

The events of Good Friday are the ultimate paradox—at once atrocious and wonderful, scandalous and beautiful, the worst kind of hate and the best kind of love. On this day we were convicted and pardoned, condemned and freed, cursed and blessed.

It was the darkest day. Many who had followed Jesus up to now fled from the events of Friday. And those who stayed to watch wept in horror: the phony trial, the mob that cried out for the blood of the man who was unbending in the weight of their demands and expectations. The brutal beating, the savagery of the soldiers, the grueling walk through the city he had entered to cheers just five days before. Finally, the nails pounded into flesh, the tortured body slouched over, the naked man died as his enemies jeered.

To his disciples – those that had forsaken everything in order to follow Jesus – this day was anything but good. This man, in whom they had put all of their hopes, was hanging dead on a tree. This was the death of their faith, the crushing of all their hopes for a new kingdom, and the end of all they believed in. Or so it seemed.

As his followers laid Jesus in the tomb on that same dark day, Easter Sunday lied in wait for them, but on Friday they couldn’t see it. They couldn’t see the defeat of death, the glory of the resurrection, or the advancement of God’s kingdom. They couldn’t see the whole story. There was no way around Good Friday, only the way through—through pain and death and burial.

It is the same for us; we cannot get around this day. We must go through the pain and death and burial to get to the resurrection. We must go through the darkness of Good Friday to get to the light of Easter.

God is a God of light: darkness cannot survive in his presence. We, who have dark hearts full of sin, should tremble at this fact. But Jesus, who was completely good, cloaked himself in the darkness of our sin and stood under the wrath of God for us. On the cross, he was destroyed and cut off from his Father. It was to have been our fate. On the first Good Friday, in the midst of our darkest hour, God did not cut us off. Jesus Christ, our true light, plunged himself into the darkness so that we might live in the light.

We can go through the darkness of this day because Jesus went through it before us.

He is saving us and bringing about our everlasting joy, in a way only God could have chosen. Easter is not far away

Devotion Questions

• Imagine if you were one of Jesus’s disciples, mixed among the crowd watching Jesus’s crucifixion, how would you feel? The shock of seeing your teacher hanging on the tall, big cross? Sorrow in seeing His pain, his body broken apart and his blood dripping from all the puncture wounds? Fear you might be caught and prosecuted? Doubt in seeing the son of God tortured by human and seemingly cannot do anything to save himself? Can you imagine how dark this day would be if you were Jesus’s disciple?

• What happens to all the teachings by Jesus to his disciples in such dark hours? What about the fact Jesus has predicted his own death before, and that also he would resurrect? They all forgot about Jesus’s promises when they were fixated on the shocking scene in front of their eyes. How about ourselves? What has been the darkest hour in our lives? Did we also forget God’s promises for us in the Bible? How weak is our faith, when we face storms we lose sight of Jesus’s promise and easily fall into the raging sea as Peter did.

• Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, and all promises were broken on this very dark day when Jesus died, the happiest day in human history – the Easter Monday was just around the corner. Our God is a God of light, and darkness cannot defeat Him. Are we going through any darkness in our life today? Do we have confidence that by faithfully following God, relying on God, He will guide us out of darkness?

Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers at Gethsemane, and from there he was questioned and trialed all night long until early morning when he got brought to the Pilate for the final trial …

Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15; John 10:11, 14-18

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

² “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

³ The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

⁵ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸ The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, ¹⁰ knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted.

¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

———-

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. … I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”

Devotion Questions

• How absurd was it, for the Jewish people to ask to release Barabbas, a convicted criminal, and to crucify Jesus? Yet as we read the scripture, take a minute to reflect if we have always chosen Jesus in our lives? Or do we choose sin sometimes? Don’t we often choose out of our own comfort or leisure, something that we know God doesn’t like, or even something that we know is sinful, instead of choosing Jesus?

• Did you know – when Mel Gibson made the movie “Passion of the Christ”, it was Mel Gibson’s own hand that held the hammer and put the nail through Jesus’s hand into the cross in that scene. He later explained “I decided to do that shot myself because it is my own sins that nailed Jesus on the cross”. Is it not also our sins that put Jesus on the cross? Do we sometimes blame the Pharisees and the Jewish teachers for killing Jesus, without realizing Jesus also died for OUR sins?

• Take a moment to slowly read the extracted scriptures from Gospel of John above and meditate on it. Re-play the scenes at Gethsemane, the trial and now sentenced to crucifixion in your mind, and meditate on these scriptures.

• With a quiet and humble heart, pray this to Jesus “Jesus, you are the almighty prince of peace, you have authority over this entire world, present, past and future. Nobody could take your life away from you, but you chose to lay it down – only because you love me. Jesus you are my great shepherd, my great protector and my dearest teacher. Lord I am not worthy of your sacrifice, but may your love ignite my heart, so that I always seek your voice, so that I may know you like a sheep knows its shepherd, and that I follow you to expand your nation as one flock, one shepherd. I pray this in your holy name – Amen.”

** Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day Christians around the world gather at church to remember Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for us. If our loved ones pass away we get together at the funeral to remember his / her life. When our beloved shepherd and teacher lays down his life for us, we have no reason not to set this day apart, and to remember our Lord in His temple. Good Friday is not an extra holiday for us to go on enjoy ourselves. It is not a long weekend for us to go on get-away trip. It is a remembrance service for our Lord. Come join us at GCGC tomorrow.

After dinner Jesus knew Judas has already left and he would return with Roman soldiers to arrest him. He goes up to a place called Gethsemane with his disciples and prayed …

Scripture Reading: Mark 14:32-42

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them.“Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba,^[f] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Devotion Questions

• Facing the biggest and toughest challenge in His missionary journey on this world, Jesus knows full well this is the moment of no-return, for once he is arrested there is no going-back. Even Jesus struggled with this ultimate sacrifice. 3 times he prayed to the heavenly Father to take the cup away, yet despite his extreme distress to a point he was sweating like bleeding, in all 3 times he immediately followed his ask with “But follow your will, not my will.” Take a moment to meditate on Jesus’s challenge, his fear, his reluctance, yet his obedience, his faithfulness, and his determination.

• Some say Jesus’s humanity is fully revealed like His Gethsemane prayers like no other scripture in the Bible. Jesus is every bit as human as you and I, and he fully understands our weakness and our challenges too. Are you also struggling with obedience in your life, and your heart just wants to take the easy way out instead of following God? Maybe it has to do with God’s calling for you? Area of ministry work? Or offering your time to serve God? Financial offering? Personal time? Or it’s your relationship or career choices? Whatever it is, spend a minute to reflect on Jesus’s example and pray to God for strength to make the difficult choice.

• Jesus told us “You did not choose me, but I chose you .. I no longer call you servants … instead I have called you my friend. There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for his friend.”  Meditate on these verses and pray to Jesus “Dear Jesus, as I reflect on my life, I am truly unworthy of you paying such a dear price for me. You had your chances to remove this bitter cup but you did not, for you love us to a point you laid down your own life for us. You chose the cross over your own life. Lord there is nothing I can do to ever repay your love for me. But teach me to follow your examples to the best of my ability, so that others can see your love in me, not to glorify me, but to glorify you and my father in heaven. Teach me, and guide me, so hopefully I can make you proud, and be worthy of you calling me your “friend”. In your most holy name I pray – Amen.”

After returning to Jerusalem, Jesus knows his time on earth was coming to an end. Before he gets arrested and taken away by the Roman soldiers, Jesus chose to spend his last, precious hours with his disciples over a Passover dinner…

Scripture Reading: Luke 22: 14-20; John  13:2-7, 12-17

Luke 22

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.^[a]

John 13

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Devotion Questions

• Jewish culture is very similar to Chinese culture in which friends and families love to dine together, not just for the food, but for the fellowship over dinner table. Take a moment to reflect on your church and cell life today, do you give thanks for the fellowship you have with the brothers and sisters at PGC? Or are you still praying for God to lead you to closer relationship with them? Love is always a 2-way street, would you be willing to show more love and care for your cell members to further strengthen our relationship?

• At the last supper, Jesus knew full well this would be the last time he put food in his mouth – the final hours when his flesh is still in whole, for soon he would have to endure the most excruciating physical pain, emotional stress and shame known to men. Close your eyes and try to imagine yourself in this little room where Jesus and his dearest disciples have their last supper.

• In his final hours with his disciples, Jesus gave his final, lasting message to them, by wrapping a towel around his waist, getting down on his knees and washing his disciples’ feet. Jesus told them “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Meditate on this for a while, how does this impact your life? Do we have Jesus’s heart today? Do we sacrifice ourselves and our resources for others? Or do we get served by others more? Do we humble ourselves for the good of others? Or do we wait for others to do good to us?

• Holy Communion is a religious practice that started with the Last supper and has endured almost 2,000 years. Inevitably sometimes we forget its meaning and simply go through the motions, yet this is the only thing Jesus asked us to do in remembrance of him, for the kind of love we can never repay. Let’s try to sincerely and genuinely observe the holy communion from now on!

As we start the week of Good Friday, our Lent Devotion also enters the final section: During this week, we will try to walk the final journey on to the cross together with Jesus – the painful, torturous road to crucifixion which Jesus consciously chose because of his love for us about 2,000 years ago. By revisiting what Jesus saw, what he did, and what he said during his last week in Jerusalem, hopefully we’ll feel closer to Jesus.

Let’s get started with the scripture today, when after a long, tiring, but amazing 3-years missionary journey Jesus finally enters the final stop – the city of Jerusalem. The old, holy city where Jesus will give up his life …

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:8-11,15-18

⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!^[a]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[b]

¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’^[a]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^[b]”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Devotion Questions:

• Throughout his 3 years of ministry on earth, Jesus has performed many miracles, healed, fed preached to many people. Thus Jesus receives a glorious reception when he entered the ancient city of Jerusalem. Yet as Jesus has told his disciples many times, he knows he comes back to this city to be crucified. Imagine the city gate into Jerusalem, the busy crowd going to the Holy city to observe Passover, the horses and donkeys, the noises … and people chanting “Hosanna” when Jesus riding on his colt enters the city. Imagine the scene, and how Jesus may feel knowing in his heart the most painful death awaits him in this city.

• Apostle John said “(Jesus) Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1). Reflect on ‘to the end’, and how deep is Jesus’s love for us. In response, how is our love for Jesus?

• Gospel of Mark records upon entering the busy city of Jerusalem, the first thing Jesus did was to enter God’s temple, and Jesus was absolutely angered by the all the buying and selling in the temple. Jesus called them ‘robbers’. Today in our lives have we maintained ‘worshiping God’ as the corner stone of our lives? Or have we allowed all the buying and selling, all the money and finance matters to take priority in our lives?

• Pray to our Lord with this prayer “Dear Lord, I thank you for entering Jerusalem despite you knew what awaited you in that city was pain, torture, shame, and ultimately crucifixion. Let your love for me be a motivation for me as I try to serve you and others. Let me feel you anger for those doing trades at God’s temple, so that in my heart I can have the same longing for justice and righteousness, and same hatred towards greed. And Jesus, please let me feel how you felt in this Good Friday week, as I try to revisit your path in the journey towards the cross, because only then I can understand how your love for us really has no end. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.”

For the last devotion of this week, we will continue with repentance before our Lord. Let us quiet our heart before we read the Scripture when 2 of Jesus’s dearest disciples – James and John, goes ask Jesus for something …

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:35-45

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

³⁹ “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Devotion Questions:

• What is “glory” to you? Is it building a successful career? Winning in a sports tournament? Driving a luxury car or carrying a brand-name handbag? Being able to accumulate enough wealth to retire at a young age? Or seeing your children do well in school? The disciples also misunderstood Jesus’ glory when they asked to be by Jesus’s side when he receives his glory. Little did they know “Glory” takes on a different meaning for Jesus – to answer God’s calling, as difficult as it may be.
• Jesus then tells John and James “You will drink the cup I drink”. Are we ready to drink Jesus’s cup? Are we prepared to make sacrifices and suffer for the soul of our loved ones?

• Jesus teaches us to be a great man, we must lay down our lives and serve others. Glory is not to be served by many, but to serve many more. How often have we humble ourselves to serve others? At work? Among our family and friends? And at PGC?

• Pray to Jesus – “Lord, you have set a great example for us, showing us how to humble yourself, how to serve others, and how to sacrifice yourself for the good of many others. Despite your great example Lord you know I have been weak, I have been self-centered, and I have been too proud. Lord Jesus, shed your light on me so I can see my flaws. Give strength to me so I can glorify you and follow you to be humble and selfless. In your holy name I pray. Amen.”

Today we will continue to devote on repentance. Are you ready? Let’s quiet our heart, turn off the TV, phone, and any other external distraction as we prepare to meet our Lord in His words. Today Jesus and his disciples goes into a town where a young, well-respected man actively seek Jesus and asked him a very important question …

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-31

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[d]”

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[e] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Devotion Questions:

• Jesus was about to pay a dear price so that we may receive the salvation freely. Though salvation is ‘free’, truly following Jesus requires us to change our lifestyle, to give up things we may leisurely enjoy in this materialistic world, to sacrifice on worldly things that give us a false sense of security.

• Let’s reflect on: Are we more like Jesus’ disciples, who gave up what they had and followed Jesus? Think of what material or leisure things we have given up since following the Lord, and give thanks to Jesus for showing to us how He is so much better than anything we can give up on this world. Read the scripture again – do you see Jesus’s promise to all of us when he answered Peter? Yes indeed, Jesus said whatever we give up on this world we will receive a 100 times more in heaven!

• Or, are we more like this rich young man, who despite seeing Jesus was the only true way to eternity, could not give up his comfortable lifestyle and his worldly assets to follow the Lord? His wealth, which should be a blessing, has now become his curse because it is holding him back from salvation. Reflect on what may be holding you back in your life. Pray to God to give you the strength, the courage, and the perseverance to truly follow Him on these things.

• Repentance is much more than simply saying sorry. Saying sorry only implies we know we were wrong. Repentance requires a heart-felt understanding of our flaws, that causes an outward reaction of change. Are there bad habits, or even addictions that you have struggled to give up? Pray out-loud to Jesus to walk with us and free us from this chain so that we can be truly free.

• For those of us participating in Lent, have we felt the emptiness of physical needs? When we step out of our comfort zone, can we root our needs in Jesus and Jesus alone?

Part of Lent is repentance. Our culture has attached a negative meaning to “repentance”, in which it is often thought of as a sign of weakness, lack of confidence, and lack of determination. That is really the self-centered, self-righteous modern culture speaking to us. In fact, repentance is a beautiful thing all Christians should continually do. Repentance is realizing we are flawed individuals, and the inner confession of our sins triggering an outward reaction to change our behavior so we can be more like God. Repentance is what every Christian needs to do continuously to truly follow.

Are you ready to repent? We’ll spend the next few days reflecting, confessing and repenting to Jesus. Let us quiet our hearts before we begin with today’s reading. Today’s reading starts with Jesus and his disciples crossing Galilee, and they are yet another step closer to Jerusalem; and, another step towards the cross and the crucifixion for Jesus.

Scripture Reading : Mark 9:30 – 37

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Devotion Questions:

• Isn’t it sad when Jesus is revealing to his dearest disciples that he was going to be killed, and then he would resurrect, but this fell on deaf ears because his disciples were too busy arguing who was the greatest among them? How would you feel if you are to reveal to your family about a major health problem you are faced with, yet they are too busy to hear you out? Can you try to put yourself in Jesus’ place and feel how he felt? Yet, this did not stop Jesus from loving his disciples, and it does not stop Jesus from loving us today. Lord, how great is your love?!!

• Has the same thing happened to us? Has the Holy Spirit tried to speak to us but we are too busy fighting for trivial things of this world? Have we been sensitive to the Spirit’s voice? Or have we told Jesus to shut up because we are too busy with our career, or relationship, or leisure, or family … Take a moment to reflect and confess to Jesus.

• Jesus doesn’t want us to repay His love by covering his churches with gold, or decorate the Bible with diamonds. Instead, He wants us to respond to His love by loving others around us, loving strangers, and even loving our enemies. Can others see Jesus’ love in how we receive them? Is there any person that God has put in your heart today, that He wants you to love and care for? What kind of action can you take to extent God’s love to him / her?

• Think of anything that took priority over your personal time with Jesus over the past week when you were trying to devote / read Bible / pray? Take a moment to reflect and confess to God in your prayer.

Are we ready to continue the journey towards the cross in this year’s Lent? Let’s prepare our heart by turning off any distraction like the TV, cellphone, computer etc., and silent ourselves before we begin to read. Here Jesus gives a very important teaching to his disciples, and his disciples of the modern day – us!

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Devotion Questions

• Jesus said if we are to be a true follower of His, we must deny ourselves and pick up our cross. This may be difficult to understand at first, but think about this – can we follow someone and follow our own heart at the same time? If we are to truly follow someone, don’t we have to stop following our own heart and our own desire? This is what Jesus means by denying ourselves.

• In our society sometimes it is so difficult to truly follow Jesus because our culture teaches us we matter the most to ourselves. Our own life is centered around ourselves – what works for us, what is in our benefit, our pleasure … This is a problem even among Christians. Our own interest is too important, our ego too big. Our preference get twisted into our needs, and our needs continuously expand and it gets so big we have no space in our heart for our faith and what Jesus wants from us. Even for many of us who serve at church what we want takes priority over what the church needs from us. Take a moment to reflect, is that true? Is that us? Remember, Jesus tells us “Deny yourself.”

• Quiet before the Lord and ask ourselves – Are we ready to deny ourselves and make sacrifices to truly follow our Lord? Are we ready to say “No” to some of our desires, and say “Yes” to God’s calling? Are we willing to make sacrifices when it comes to our time? Our money? Or even our career, our relationship with family and friends?

• Pray to Jesus “Dear Jesus, I know you love me, to the extent you consciously chose the cross to redeem me. Jesus I am not ashamed of your words, but forgive me as I am weak. Give me courage, and grant me wisdom, so that I can stand up for you and your teachings – first with my deeds, then with my mouth. I ask for these in your holy name. Amen.”

Background: At the time of the scripture, Jesus is getting close to the end of his 3 years of ministry on earth. During this time he has performed many miracles with his disciples, and built a very close relationship with them. Yet his disciples did not know Jesus was the son of God. Some thought he was a prophet like Moses or Elijah, some thought he’s a great rabbi. On his way back to Jerusalem Jesus started disclosing his identity to his dearest disciples …

Scripture: Mark 8:27-33

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Devotion Questions

• During Jesus’ 3 years of ministry on earth, many people followed Jesus, but few knew he was the Messiah. Even among His 12 disciples, only Peter realized Jesus was the Messiah in the above scripture. Today do we truly realize the Lord we are following is the almighty God? In our heart do we have faith that the Jesus Christ we follow is bigger than any challenge and any storm we may face in our life?

• Peter tried to persuade Jesus from the painful crucifixion, but Jesus scolded him “Satan” because any suggestion to go against Heavenly Father’s will is evil to Jesus. Today do we care more about the concerns of God? Or do we merely care about human concerns? In our lives what are our human concerns? What are God’s will for us? Take a minute to reflect.

• Would you like to follow Jesus and start caring more about what concerns God? Pray to Jesus “Dear Jesus, I want to thank you for walking down that painful road towards the cross, because of that I am saved today. I would like to follow you, I pray that you can reveal God’s wishes to me more. Especially over the next 2 weeks during the Lent period, I pray that you guide my heart as I spend time with you in devotion. In your name I pray. Amen.”

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for
you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him
and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you
believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I
say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and
they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Reflection:
14:3-4 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
God’s promise never change, Jesus already prepare a place for us, do we truly understand the meaning of this promise? Do we prepare ourselves enough to meet God one day?
Thomas and Philip is Jesus’s disciples, they experienced Jesus’s almighty power and know He is God. But there are times when they do not understand God. Our prayer life always make the same mistake, we always put God as a listener and do not listen to God. We should quiet down ourselves and to be a listener more frequent in order to understand Him.

Slowly read the follow passages and practice to listen God. Do not rush and put down your burden inside your heart.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me……. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
(John 14:27)
These were Jesus’ last words to His disciples. Last words are usually very important words. Imagine a dying father exhorting his children repeatedly on his deathbed. These words not just express the broken
heartedness at having to leave, but also deliver some very important messages that are not easily conveyed. In this Scripture passage, Jesus spoke the final words to the disciples He loved and told them the most important thing they needed – peace.
Although Jesus was going to be arrested and killed, He still cared for His disciples and provided them the comfort and teaching they needed.
Most people believe that peace is leading a stable and comfortable life, or everything happens according to their plan. When there is difficult situation, their peace will leave. The peace from God is “His peace.”
This peace will never change under any situation and you can still have it in suffering and pain. Thank the Lord for leaving us such wonderful peace. Have your heart been excited to love God and to love others
when you remember the love of your saviour on the cross? Will you serve the Lord wholeheartedly so that others could also receive this true peace from God?
True peace can only be received when your life is connected with Jesus. It is not because of external circumstances. That is why even when Paul was put into jail in Rome, he could still write the following words, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Slowly read the Scripture: Take time to read and allow God to speak to you. Look at verse(s) that stood out to you and touches your heart.
Observation: Write the scriptures down in your own words. Meditate write down just your thoughts.
Application: Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to you and your life. Perhaps it is an instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular
area of your life that applying to you today or believe that God is showing you through the lives and situations.
Prayer: Ask God to help you using this scripture for your daily life and understand His will.
Devotion Sharing: At all times, Samaritan and Jews keeps distant to each other. But their difficulties bring them together. God healed both of them in different way, pretty amazing.
Blessing: A person asks for Jesus’s help would not be put in vain. If you are one of them from the story, how would you respond to God?

15 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.”
16 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.”
17 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.
18 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.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Reflection:
When Jesus was betrayed by his disciples and put to trial, Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter felt so sorry and unworthy that he could no longer love the Lord and follow Him. Did you have similar
experience that you were discouraged and felt sorry after you denied Jesus in your life? How did you feel?
Jesus did not give up Peter. After his resurrection from the dead, he once again took the initiative to find Peter. Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus also asked Peter three times: “Peter, do you love me?”
Jesus let Peter know that He still longs for his love. This shows us that the salvation Jesus accomplished for us on the cross is effective, not only at the beginning when you pray for repentance and accept Jesus as your Lord, but also at times when you determine to follow Him again after you have been weak and fell back to the Lord. This is the love of the cross, which loves you, loves me till the end and never changes. At this moment are you willing to tell the Lord, “Yes Lord, I love you”?
After Peter met the Lord Jesus, his life changed dramatically. He responded to the Lord’s love by preaching the Gospel and being a good shepherd to the churches. How about you? How would you
respond to the Lord’s love? Starting today in which areas you are willing to be better equipped yourself so that you will be able to tell the Lord: “Lord, I am ready, please use me.”?