John 6.39, 1 Corinthians 15.12-19

Our faith depends on belief in the resurrection: first of all Christ, then those who have died in Christ, then those of us who live in the hope of being reunited with our loved ones.

Zephaniah 3.14-1, 1 Corinthians 15.1-11

Zephaniah 3.14-18, 1 Corinthians 15.1-11

I love this story, not because it guilts Christians into thinking God wants them to prove their love for him by sacrificing their families, but because God himself has provided the same sacrifice he asked of Abraham: he gave his own son and restored his family to Abraham, and reconciles us to himself. 

1 Peter 2.24-25, Luke 23.1-25

I have a secret sympathy for Pilate: he tried three times to spare Jesus, but the chief priests and leaders of the people were determined he should do as they asked. Was he a villain, a saint or a victim? The Ethiopian and Coptic churches venerate him as a martyr and a saint. 

Peter is challenged three times and each time denies Christ. Jesus, about to be condemned, simply looks at Peter and Peter weeps bitterly.

Jesus' very last miracle was healing a slave. 

Psalm 45 Matthew 9.35-38, 2 Timothy

How the church needs to leave behind her father's house and embrace her new Lord: she will be remembered throughout the generations and praised for her courage and sacrifice.

Psalm 17, John 9.1-5, 2 Tim 1

Paul's love for Timothy. We need to stop seeing disabled people as less than.

Psalm 104, Mark 4.26-29, 1 Tim 6. 1-16

Along with encouragement about discerning the truth, being content and fighting the fight of faith, Slaves are instructed to respect and serve their masters, especially if they are Christians. Maybe the calling is to mirror Christ's self-emptying, but that's easy for us to say. Much to ponder here.