Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.I will put my Spirit upon him,and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.He will not quarrel or cry aloud,nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;a bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not quench,until he brings justice to victory;and in his name the Gentiles will hope.
As we read your Word, may we see the Beloved Suffering Servant, in whom you are well pleased. Help us to follow his example. Amen. (Matthew 12:17-21, 1 Peter 2:20-25)
Scripture Reading - Mark 9:30-41 (ESV)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them,“What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you,whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Lord Jesus, in this story we see you going on your way to Jerusalem. The time has come for you to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill you. We confess:
Father, you have called us to endure the suffering which comes in the midst of doing those things that please you. This is a gracious thing in your sight. Thank you for Christ's example. Help us to follow in his steps. You promise that as we suffer for righteousness' sake, we will be blessed. We need not fear them who persecute us or be troubled. May we honor Christ the Lord as holy in our hearts. Amen. (1 Peter 3:13-17)
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture Reading - Mark 9:30-41 (ESV)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them,“What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you,whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Lord Jesus, in this story we see you going on your way to Jerusalem. The time has come for you to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill you. We confess:
You committed no sin, neither was deceit found in your mouth. For our sake, the Father made you, who knew no sin, to be sin for us. You bore our sins in your body on the tree so that we may die to sin and live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2:21-25)Father, we confess that as the disciples did, we, too, seek after the wrong greatest. We don't obey the greatest commandment - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:34-40) Forgive us, Father. And we don't desire the greatest spiritual gift - the most excellent way.
If we speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, we are but a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if we have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if we have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, we are nothing. If we give away all we have, and if we deliver up our bodies to be burned, but have not love, we gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)Remind us Father, that though faith, hope, and love abide, the greatest of these is love.
Father, you have called us to endure the suffering which comes in the midst of doing those things that please you. This is a gracious thing in your sight. Thank you for Christ's example. Help us to follow in his steps. You promise that as we suffer for righteousness' sake, we will be blessed. We need not fear them who persecute us or be troubled. May we honor Christ the Lord as holy in our hearts. Amen. (1 Peter 3:13-17)
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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