MON, APR 7
Psalm 119:10–18 (ESV)10 With our whole heart we seek you; let us not wander from your commandments! 11 We have stored up your word in our hearts, that we might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach us your statutes! 13 With our lips we declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies we delight as much as in all riches. 15 We will meditate on your precepts and fix our eyes on your ways. 16 We will delight in your statutes; we will not forget your word. 17 Deal bountifully with your servants, that we may live and keep your word. 18 Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Lectio Divina (Divine Reading):
1. Read (1st Reading) - just listen
2. Reflect (2nd Reading) - think about words/phrases that stand out to you
3. Respond (3rd Reading) - pray back to God where/what you think He is leading you to, or even Who He is wanting you to believe and trust that He is
4. Rest
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15 (English Standard Version)
1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Reflect
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15 (New Jerusalem Bible)
1 First thing in the morning, the chief priests, together with the elders and scribes and the rest of the Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate put to him this question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He replied, ‘It is you who say it.’ 3 And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. 4 Pilate questioned him again, ‘Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!’ 5 But, to Pilate’s surprise, Jesus made no further reply. 6 At festival time Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, any one they asked for. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the uprising. 8 When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, 9 Pilate answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?’ 10 For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. 11 The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Then Pilate spoke again, ‘But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?’ 13 They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ 14 Pilate asked them, ‘What harm has he done?’ But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ 15 So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Reflect
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15 (New Living Translation)
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise. 6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual. 9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
Respond
Devotional Thoughts
Intercessory Prayer
Lord’s Prayer (Pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen.