BROTHERS
Today’s Reading: John 7
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
A Jewish man studies the Torah in a library situated in a tunnel along the Western Wall of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: John 7:5
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Today’s reading tells us that Jesus knew the feeling of family betrayal. His brothers refused to believe in Him. He knew what it was to feel completely alone. He said, speaking of the world, “It hates Me” (John 7:7). He understands when we feel alone and misunderstood. He is the Source of our comfort. The names of His brothers are recorded in Mark 6. It might be helpful to read again Mark 6:1-6. God can change families. Jesus’ brothers received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). Two of them, James and Jude, wrote books that are part of the New Testament, the books bearing their names. Sometimes it increases the impact of Scripture on our lives to read it out loud. This morning, in order not to awaken Norma-Jean, I’ve gone outside and read so that I not only see the Words of Jesus from this chapter, but hear them too. They are powerful, life-changing Words.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will teach me daily as I read, highlight, write in the margins, learn, and digest Your Word inside of me. I know You are helping me to follow this blog daily, and I thank You with all my heart. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The largest private office I’ve ever visited was in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. I had made an appointment to see the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem about renting office space in one of their buildings for the Arabic television ministry. His main goal was not to do business but to convince me that the “brothers” mentioned in Mark 6 were actually cousins. Be that as it may, we prayed together, and I thanked him for his time. Sometime I hope to share here about the other Patriarch in Yerevan. There are two of them in the Armenian church, one in Jerusalem and one in Armenia. The Armenian Patriarch then is now their Pope. When in his thirties, as the leader of the Young Communists of Armenia, he had an Apostle Paul type conversion. He sent two of his brightest priests to study with us at Crossroads. He’s now telecasting the Gospel from Mount Ararat into Turkey, the area of the infamous Armenian holocaust. He, along with Baptist and Pentecostal pastors, ended up in the same cell in a communist prison, but that’s another story.
Yours for a daily commitment to study God’s Word,
David
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your Living Word. Send it out all over this world, I ask in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen!
That prison story is a very inspiring one,an unusual way of getting undivided attention…May God bless all connected to this blog,especially Ron and all of David’s family.Amen
Sharon’s Only Rose
My soul cries from deep within,
For the wounds caused my own sin
Where darkness is my closest kin,
In a battle only You can win.
You,Lord,have created me
To find the light that’s ever free
Or to walk for eternity
In darkness where no truth can be.
You,Lord,are the One that knows
Of the darkness that we oppose,
And while you’re Sharon’s only Rose;
I’m still imprisoned in sorrows throes.
The dark of night is a thief
Where my own heart bestows the grief
So change my heart to bring relief
That my life’s torment is only brief.
Knowing this you sent a Light,
One Who speaks softly of Your might
And taught us how to do what’s right,
Removing e’er the eternal night.
So He knows our weakness well,
For He came here with us to dwell;
Then within,our darkness to quell
And to meet us there at death’s last knell.
(G W) Bill Marshall/15Feb, 2016
I just realized today is the anniversary of The Bump,the mine disaster that took the lives of 75 miners including my father.It was the second one in 2 years.His tomb stone reads “Until we meet again”.God bless
Amen to the comments above
Thank you William for sharing that anniversary and that your father was among the minors that were killed
Thank you so much again William for your inspiring poems that you share with us they are always inspirational so thank you
May God richly bless everyone today amen 🙏✝️
Correction William that is miners
That was very touching when you when you shared that
Springhill Mine Disaster, 23 October 1958. Nova Scotia….. Sorry for the very sad death of your Dad, William. It must have been a very traumatic experience for your family and for so many other families!
I wonder why so many Bible translations have omitted John 5:4…. ?
Now you make me wonder too , it’s my New King James translation but omitted in my NIV. ???
Blessings all today. Great poetry William! Thanks. (I can’t go outside and read aloud – I’m on the 6th floor and don’t have a balcony!!!)
Thank you William for your poem and sharing about the mine disaster
You will be looking forward to bring reunited with your. Father when the time is right. For now Good bless and be thankful for memories
Thank you and Amen to other comments
Two stories. First one my wife and I just returned from Israel. At the All Nations Convocation in Jerusalem. A remnant usually 1500 delegates. This year around 400. We csme as a team of 10. Leader Maggie Baratto. One day 7 from the group visited some of tbe areas in Jerusalem. Davids tomb where many study the word like the man in the picture. Second story today was reading of John 7 we are part of group with Canada Celebrates Israel praying for 1 hour Tim one of the leaders spoke on John7:37. I prayed into that same verse. Praise God churches of Canada be filled with the Holy Spirit. No more luke warm church. Hallelujah, alk the glory to God.