Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, please help me to know how to use those moments of power that you give me in my life. I want to use those opportunities redemptively and not selfishly. I cannot help but be humbled at Jesus' restraint in the face of such a sham religious leader. May I have such wisdom and restraint when it is your will and may I be passionate and bold, just as Jesus was in cleansing the Temple, when that response is necessary. Please help me know the best way to honor you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

The people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest. All the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law were gathered there. Peter followed Jesus, but he did not come near Jesus. Peter followed Jesus to the yard of the high priest's house. Peter went into the yard. Peter was sitting there with the guards. He was warming himself by their fire. The leading priests and all the Jewish council tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong so they could kill him. But the council could find no proof that would allow them to kill Jesus. Many people came and told false things against Jesus. But the people all said different things—none of them agreed. Then some people stood and said something false against Jesus. They said, "We heard this man (Jesus) say, 'I will destroy this temple that men made. And three days later, I will build another temple—a temple not made by men.'" But also the things these people said did not agree. Then the high priest stood before all the people and said to Jesus, "These people said things against you. Do you have something to say about these charges against you? Are these people telling the truth?" But Jesus said nothing. He did not answer. The high priest asked Jesus another question: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed {God}?" Jesus answered, "Yes, I am the Son of God. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of the Great One (God). And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven." When the high priest heard this, he was very angry. He tore his clothes and said, "We don't need any more witnesses! You all heard him say these things against God. What do you think?" All the people said that Jesus was wrong. They said he was guilty and must be killed. Some of the people there spit at Jesus. They covered Jesus' eyes and hit him with their fists. They said, "Be a prophet and tell us who hit you!" Then the guards led Jesus away and beat him.

Related Scripture Readings

He was hurt and punished. But he never protested. He said nothing—like a sheep being taken to be killed. He was like a lamb that makes no sound when someone cuts off its wool. He never opened his mouth {to defend himself}. Men used force and took him—and they did not judge him fairly. No person can tell about his future family, because he was taken from the land of living people. He was punished to pay for the sins of my people. He died and was buried with the rich. He was buried with evil men. He did nothing wrong—he never spoke lies—but still these things happened to him. The Lord decided to crush him. The Lord decided that he must suffer, so the Servant gave himself to be the one to die. But he will live a new life for a long, long time. He will see his people. He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do. He will suffer many things in his soul, but he will see the good things that happen. He will be satisfied with the things he learns. My Good Servant will make many people not guilty; he will carry away their guilt. For this reason, I will reward him among my people. He will have a share of all things with the people that are strong. {I will do this for him} because he gave his life for the people and died. People said he was a criminal. But {the truth is that} he carried away the sins of many, many people. And now he speaks for people that have sinned."

So Philip went toward the chariot, and he heard the man reading. He was reading from Isaiah, the prophet. Philip said to him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The man said, "How can I understand? I need some person to explain it to me!" Then he invited Philip to climb in and sit with him. The part of Scripture that he was reading was this: "He was like a sheep when it is taken to be killed. He was like a lamb that makes no sound when someone cuts off its wool. He said nothing. He was shamed, and all his rights were taken away. His life on earth was ended. There will be no story about his family (descendants)." The officer said to Philip, "Please, tell me, who is the prophet talking about? Is he talking about himself or about someone else?" Philip began to speak. He started with this same Scripture and told the man the Good News about Jesus.

That is what you were called to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. You should do the same as he did. {You should be patient when you suffer,} because Christ suffered for you. "He (Christ) did no sin, and no lies were found in his mouth." People said bad things to Christ, but he did not say bad things to them. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten (speak against) the people. No! Christ let God take care of him. God is the One who judges rightly. Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his (Christ's) wounds you were healed. You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives.