²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? (Luke 9:23 – 25, New International Version)

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:16 – 20, New International Version)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context

Today, we conclude our 40 Days of Discipline journey with our final day of review.  Each year during lent, we promote the practice of spiritual disciplines to encourage a deeper relationship with God.  Thank you for being a part of this journey. 

We focused on the theme of Discipleship this year, and explored the intrinsic link between the disciplines of Bible Study and Prayer and discipleship.  Hopefully, you have become more aware of how the Holy Spirit can use the disciplines to enhance your life as a disciple of Jesus.   

The comments we have received over the last 40 days have made an enormous difference, and we are truly grateful to those who commented.  If you were a “silent” participant we also greatly appreciate your participation.

Tomorrow is a special day to celebrate the wonderful privilege we have to be disciples of our risen Saviour and Lord.  We have found our lives in Jesus and He has equipped us to follow Him, share the gospel, and “make disciples.” 

Request

Look out for opportunities to share the joy of being a disciple of Jesus with someone who needs to hear the gospel.    

Please share any final thoughts on our journey this year.  We would love to hear from you.

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  ³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”  ³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  ³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.  ³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  ⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  ⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:32 – 43, New International Version, Emphasis added)

³³ At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴ And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).  (Mark 15:33 – 34, New International Version, Emphasis added)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.  (Luke 23:44 – 46, New International Version, Emphasis added)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context:

Thanks for your comments yesterday.  You highlighted Jesus’ love and compassion for His exhausted disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.  An even more historic act of love is what we celebrate today.  As He hung on the cross, Jesus demonstrated God’s love for the whole world.     

For our final consideration of the prayers that Jesus prayed during Passion Week, we turn our eyes to the cross.  The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross have been studied extensively.  Included in Jesus’ sayings are three very short prayers.  Thousands of pages have been written about the meaning of these prayers and not surprisingly, the views expressed vary significantly.   We will not attempt to engage in the theological debates because doing so is not necessary for our purposes.  Instead, we will summarize some important points relevant to our theme of discipleship.  A few thoughts on Jesus’ three prayers on the cross are provided below:

• “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Consistent with his teaching to love our enemies and pray for them, Jesus asks His father to forgive those who have played a part in His unjust crucifixion.
• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Using the words of Psalm 22:2, Jesus was transparent about His suffering and He expressed the sense of abandonment He experienced on the cross.
• “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Using the words of Psalm 31:5, Jesus declares His faith in His Father and His declaration of the ultimate act of sacrifice. 

Throughout our journey over 39 days so far, repeatedly we have seen how important Scripture and prayer were to Jesus’ ministry.  In the pivotal moment of His crucifixion, again we see Jesus using Scripture and praying.  The example set by Jesus on the cross is an emphatic confirmation that His disciples must be committed to Bible study and praying!

The most profound message in the three prayers though, is a message of love.  In fact, the prayers bring to mind John 3:16.   The compassion in the first prayer echoes, “For God so loved the world.”  The sacrifice and suffering in the second prayer echoes, “that he gave his one and only Son.”  Finally, the faith and confidence in the last prayer echoes, “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

We are disciples of a God of love, and we love Him because He first loved us!     

Bible Passages:

Jesus’ prayers on the cross are captured in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  The only prayer not captured in the passages above is from Matthew 27:46, which is essentially the same as Mark 15:34.  Please prayerfully read the passages and respond to the request and question below.          

Request/Question:

Please spend some time this Good Friday in prayerful reflection on the privilege we have to be disciples of a God who loves us infinitely.  Based on your reflections, what do you feel compelled to do more of as a disciple of Jesus?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”  ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  ⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”  ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.  ⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”  (Matthew 26:36 – 46, New International Version)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context:

Thanks for your comments yesterday regarding unity, including the link to the song, “We are One in the Spirit.”  In our individualistic societies with many fractured local churches, it is easy to forget how important unity is to the identity and mission of disciples of Jesus.  As is evident in your comments, John 17 reveals the importance of unity to Jesus and by extension, to us.

We will now turn our attention to Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In Matthew’s account, Jesus prayed three times and asked His disciples to watch and pray with Him, but they could not stay awake.  Jesus’ suffering, His request to His father for the cup to be taken from Him, and His submission to the will of His Father have been the topics of many Christological and trinitarian debates.  Except for recognizing that there is considerable mystery surrounding the interplay that occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane between man’s finite domain and God’s infinite domain, we will not be engaging in the theological debates in this discussion.  Instead, our focus is on the interactions between Jesus and His disciples. 

During intense sorrow and suffering, Jesus was persistent in prayer and persistent in encouraging His disciples to pray.  Put yourself in the Garden of Gethsemane for a moment.  Imagine knowing that you are soon going to be unjustly tortured and killed. Then, imagine sharing your sorrow with some of your closest friends and asking them to watch and pray with you. Finally, imagine that instead of watching and praying, your friends fall asleep. Despite the inability of your friends to watch and pray with you, would you patiently continue to encourage them to pray and keep checking up on them?

Bible Passage:

Our Scripture passage today presents Matthew’s account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He is betrayed by Judas.  Please prayerfully read the passage and answer the questions below.          

Questions:

• Why did Jesus want His disciples to watch and pray with Him?
• What stands out to you about Jesus’ interactions with the exhausted disciples?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.  ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  (John 17:20 – 26, New International Version)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context:

Thanks for your insightful comments about the word of God yesterday.  Jesus’ prayer for His disciples echoes His response to the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:4), quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  Your comments emphasize the importance of the word of God to His disciples. This importance cannot be overstated!

We now continue our examination of John 17 to gain insights into the subject matters that really mattered to Jesus and His disciples. Today, we move to the second section of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples.  Just as we found repeated references to the word of God in yesterday’s Scripture passage, in today’s Scripture passage we find repeated references to another subject, unity.   Based on the priority Jesus gave this subject in His prayer, all His disciples should likewise make this a top priority.

Bible Passage:

Our Scripture passage today captures the last section of Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where Jesus prays for generations of disciples.   Please prayerfully read the passage and consider the questions below.          

Questions:

Please highlight the references to unity (including phrases such as “be one,” “in me,” “in you,” or “in them”) in the passage above and note the purpose for each reference. 

• How many references do you see?
• Based on your notes, why is unity of utmost importance to disciples of Jesus?

⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.  ¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  (John 17:6 – 19, New International Version)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context:

Thanks for your comments yesterday about the impression Jesus would have left on His disciples.  Woven together, your responses say that Jesus confirmed His credentials, His care for His disciples, and His care for His Father. He provided these confirmations in an unmistakable fashion that would have left a lasting impression on His disciples.   You also indicated that Jesus demonstrated the importance of prayer by the example He set. 

Having set the stage for our discussions this week, we now turn to Jesus’ prayers during Passion Week, and we will start with Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in John 17.    In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell wrote that ten thousand hours of practice leads to a level of expertise on a subject.  What subjects would Jesus have wanted His disciples to be “experts” in based on the many hours they spent together?   John 17 captures the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the Bible, and it provides great insights into some of the subject matters that really mattered to Jesus and His disciples.  As Jesus prays for His disciples, one subject leaps off the page as a clear priority, the word of God. 

Bible Passage:

As mentioned yesterday, Jesus’ prayer in John 17 has three distinct sections.  We considered the first section yesterday, where Jesus prayed for himself.  Today and tomorrow, we are focusing on the two sections where Jesus prays for His disciples.  Please prayerfully read the passage above and consider the questions below.          

Questions:

• Please highlight the references to the word of God in the passage above.  How many references do you see?
• What key messages should we take from the references to the word of God that you highlighted?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.

John 16

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”  ¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”  ¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.  ²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”  ²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”  ³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.  ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 17

¹After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.  (John 16:16 – 17:5, New International Version)

Theme:  Discipleship

Context:

We have arrived at Passion Week – so named because the origin of “passion” is the Latin word passio, which means suffering.  Indeed, Jesus suffered for our sake during Passion Week.  During His time of suffering, Jesus made prayer a priority and His disciples featured explicitly and implicitly in His prayers.  This week we are going to focus on Jesus’ prayers during Passion Week and discuss the immense implications of these prayers for His disciples.

First, we will set the stage for our discussions.  Across the four Gospels, we find three settings during Passion Week where Jesus prayed.  In each of these settings we find three prayers (or three distinct sections of one prayer). 

• Setting #1:  In the 17^th chapter of the Gospel of John, we find a prayer with three distinct sections: 1) Jesus prays for himself, 2) Jesus prays for the disciples who followed him during his earthly life, and 3) Jesus prays for all other disciples.  The prayer in John 17 is sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer or the Farewell Prayer.
• Setting #2:  In the Gospels of Matthew (26:36 – 46), Mark (14:32 – 42), and Luke (22:39 – 46) Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane while His disciples struggled to stay awake. 
• Setting #3:  The synoptic Gospels record Jesus’ three prayers on the cross.  Luke records two prayers (Luke 23:34 and 46) and Matthew and Mark record the third prayer (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34). 

We will discuss these prayers in detail over the next four days.

Bible Passage:

Our Bible passage contributes to the stage setting for our discussions this week.  Jesus’ conversation with His disciples in John 16, which occurs just before His prayer in John 17, demonstrates the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and His disciples.  Likewise, the first five verses of John 17 demonstrate the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and His Father.  Please prayerfully read the passage and consider the questions below.           

Questions:

Put yourself in the shoes of the 11 disciples observing how Jesus communicated with them and His Father during a week of suffering with no parallel in human history.  Based on what Jesus said to His disciples and His Father in the Scripture passage above:

• What general impression do you believe Jesus made on the disciples?
• What impression do you believe Jesus left regarding prayer?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.