WEDNESDAY, July 30th, 2008

Wow. Where was everyone yesterday? It was such a great passage, and yet we had so few people do their devotions. That was disapointing! I hope that you are calling up your partners and reminding them to do their devotions.

Tonight is going to be a great night! Listen, if you are going to camp you DEFINITELY need to be in church tonight! I am going to give you a few last minute reminders about some things you will need to bring!

INFO ABOUT THE DEVOTIONS:
I want us to finish the book of John before we go to camp and that means that we have 3 chapters left in three days, so the next three days are going to be bigger chapters than normal, but I think it will be good for us. Take an extra few minutes and read through this longer passage. This does NOT mean that you need to describe EVERY verse, but pick out the most powerful verses that spoke to you throughout the passage. This will only be for a few days, then we will study some other great passages.

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Michael: That was so great yesterday! I really enjoy reading your thoughts about the passages we are studying!
Bethany: You are correct when you say it was good that Pilate did not believe Jesus did anything wrong, the problem with Pilate is that instead of doing what was right, He followed the crowd. Pretty interesting Huh!
Jessica M: Wow! It is so good to have you back on here! I must say, I missed you each day that you were not on! Hey really quick, let me explain my thoughts about the version we use. In college I had to write several different papers and do many different studies on the different texts. In my studies I found that the men who translated the greek text that would one day be the KJV and the NKJV were EXTREMELY precise and dedicated believers. However the men who translated the modern versions were named Wescott and Hort. These men were UNBELIEVERS and it seems that sometimes they were careless or even biased in their translations. In other words they would change the text to say what they wanted it to say... Now, I am definitely not going to tell you that there could never be anything better than the KJV. Personally I believe that our language has shifted drastically within the last 150 years. I also believe that because of this language shift many people (like you and many other young people) have a hard time studying through the KJV. That is why each day I take the time to explain each passage in more common words. But I dont want you to only take it from me: We will be going to some much easier passages after we finish the book of John. So please bear with me for a few more days in the book of John and then it will get easier.

Do this: Go study up on the subject and tell me what you find out, I am always up for a good, healthy, debate, and I always keep an open mind, If what I have learned is not the most accurate truth then I am willing to admit it.

I will also do some more research on the topic as well...
Rachel: Yes you could say it was a "majority rules thing" or like "everyone was following the crowd"!
Marvin: So did you remind Kervin? Or did you not tell Him because He never tells you??
Ryan: you are Right On! Jesus does love us!
John M: Be Triangle? I dont know what that means, but I know I don't want to be a triangle, SO I WILL BE THERE!!!
Tyler: Good stuff man! Are you ready for camp??

John 19

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,
18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.
19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.
24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “ They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”Therefore the soldiers did these things.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.
33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”
37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

I don't know about you, but as I read this with an open mind and heart, I see so many new things that I have not seen before. I think it is so neat How even in His death Jesus cares for His mother and tells another disciple to take care of Her.

I think it is so great how over and over in this passage every detail went exactly as was propecied. Down to the detain of not breaking Jesus bones... To dividing and casting lots for Jesus' clothes. Jesus Christ knew what was going to happen at this moment because He was had told the writers of the old testament what to write down when the word of God was inspired.

It is interesting to read Johns account of the crucifixion... John was not concerned about the graphic details, John simply wanted us to know what happened and then get that part over with. I think I would have been the same way... I think it would have just made me mad to write about every detail about what happened on the cross!!

I think it is wonderful how Jospeh and Nicodemus went and bought a brand new tomb and they went and got the best wraps and spices to take care of Jesus body... Thre really cool part is that all of that wasnt really necessary because in just three short days, this body of Christ would no longer be dead.

I am so thankful that Christ was willing to be sacrificed for my sin. He knew what He was going to have to go through, and He said, I love each of you SO MUCH that I will do it anyway!! What a wonderful God we have! Like Ryan said yesterday: HE SURE DOES LOVE US!!!!