Tuesday, April 12, 2022

The Daily Bible Readings for Wednesday, April 13, 2022 — Wednesday of Holy Week (Spy Wednesday)

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Wednesday of Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Today’s Verse of the Day:
Romans 3:23-24

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
We sin when we fail to comply with God’s will or we violate His law—we don’t do the things He created us to do or fulfill the purposes that He planned for us (Eph. 2:10). So we are judged guilty of committing sin and must pay retribution (Rom. 6:23). That is why sin is a debt that we owe—because we have broken the law against God. Jesus alone lived a sinless life and could pay for our sin debt in full (2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 2:13, 14; Heb. 4:15; 7:26–28).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Prophetic Books of Major Prophets
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Servant is Vindicated by God

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
     to know the word that sustains the weary.
  He wakens me morning by morning,
     wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
     I have not been rebellious,
     I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
     my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
  I did not hide my face
     from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
     I will not be disgraced.
  Therefore have I set my face like flint,
     and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
     Who then will bring charges against me?
     Let us face each other!
  Who is my accuser?
     Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
     Who will condemn me?
  They will all wear out like a garment;
     the moths will eat them up.


Commentary
The sufferings and exaltation of the Messiah.

As Jesus was God and man in one person, we find him sometimes speaking, or spoken of, as the Lord God; at other times, as man and the servant of Jehovah. He was to declare the truths which comfort the broken, contrite heart, those weary of sin, harassed with afflictions. And as the Holy Spirit was upon him, that he might speak as never man spake; so the same Divine influence daily wakened him to pray, to preach the gospel, and to receive and deliver the whole will of the Father. The Father justified the Son when he accepted the satisfaction he made for the sin of man. Christ speaks in the name of all believers. Who dares to be an enemy to those unto whom he is a Friend? or who will contend with those whom he is an Advocate? Thus St. Paul applies it (Romans 8:33).


From the Psalter
Psalm 70
Be Pleased O God to Deliver Me

1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
     come quickly, Lord, to help me.

2 May those who want to take my life
     be put to shame and confusion;
  may all who desire my ruin
     be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
     turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you
     rejoice and be glad in you;
  may those who long for your saving help always say,
     “The Lord is great!”

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
     come quickly to me, O God.
  You are my help and my deliverer;
     Lord, do not delay.


Commentary
The speedy destruction of the wicked, and the preservation of the godly.

This psalm is almost the same as the last five verses of Psalm 40. While here we behold Jesus Christ set forth in poverty and distress, we also see him denouncing just and fearful punishment on his Jewish, heathen, and antichristian enemies; and pleading for the joy and happiness of his friends, to his Father's honor. Let us apply these things to our own troubled circumstances, and in a believing manner bring them, and the sinful causes thereof, to our remembrance. Urgent trials should always awake fervent prayers.


From the Epistles
Hebrews 12:1-3
Look to Jesus Who Endured the Cross

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Commentary
Persevere in faith by focusing on Jesus.

Perception is a powerful thing. The author of Hebrews encouraged Christians to stare obsessively at Jesus in the face of their circumstances. While remembering Jesus in everything is a wonderful idea, it is difficult actually to do. Life is full of needs and demands, and people can easily become distracted by things that are inconsequential; they become burdened by things that are beyond their ability to control.

Despite the problems of life, God wants people to look to Jesus. When people get a glimpse of who God really is, they then see themselves for what they really are, and life comes into focus. God tells people to look to Jesus because doing so actually has a transformative effect on life. Paul spoke of this as well when writing to encourage the church to be faithful to Jesus. He told them that as they beheld God’s glory, God would transform them and change their lives (2Co 3:18). Put simply, people become what they behold (NIV Jesus Bible).


From the Gospels
John 13:21-32
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal

13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

Commentary
The treachery of Judas foretold.

Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.



Today’s Lectionary Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org. The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

The Lenten Prayer for Wednesday, April 13, 2022

 

40 Days of Lenten Prayers
Day 37 — Wednesday of Holy Week


My savior, do you invite me to share in the glory of the resurrection? Please stay with me as I struggle to see how accepting the crosses of my life will free me from the power of the one who wants only to destroy my love and trust in you. Help me to be humble and accepting like your son, Jesus. I want to turn to you with the same trust he had in your love. Save me, Lord. Only you can save me. Amen.

The Morning Prayer for Wednesday, April 13, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Wednesday, April 13, 2022


Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10, NIV


Lord our God, O great and almighty One, whose Spirit fills heaven and earth! We thank you that you are our Father and that in you we have a refuge wherever we must go as we serve you on earth. We thank you that your life can be revealed in us and can flow through us so that the world may be blest by you, our loving and caring Father. Protect us and strengthen us in times of trouble and sorrow. When we travel on new paths, give us your Spirit to show us the way, that everything may lead to the good and to your honor. Father, through your Spirit unite us in the unshakable hope that your will shall at last be done on earth as in heaven. Grant that we may rejoice in the certainty that whatever happens, our paths are made level and firm by your love and your faithfulness. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, April 13, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Wednesday, April 13, 2022


Romans 3:23-24
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
We sin when we fail to comply with God’s will or we violate His law—we don’t do the things He created us to do or fulfill the purposes that He planned for us (Eph. 2:10). So we are judged guilty of committing sin and must pay retribution (Rom. 6:23). That is why sin is a debt that we owe—because we have broken the law against God. Jesus alone lived a sinless life and could pay for our sin debt in full (2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 2:13, 14; Heb. 4:15; 7:26–28).

Read the Full Chapter



Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Our Daily Bread — Carried by Love

 

Carried by Love

I have made you and I will carry you. Isaiah 46:4

READ Isaiah 46:1–10



My four-year-old grandson sat on my lap and patted my bald head, studying it intently. “Papa,” he asked, “What happened to your hair?” “Oh,” I laughed, “I lost it over the years.” His face turned thoughtful: “That’s too bad,” he responded. “I’ll have to give you some of mine.”

I smiled at his compassion and pulled him close for a hug. Reflecting later on his love for me in that cherished moment also caused me to ponder God’s selfless, generous love.

G. K. Chesterton wrote: “We have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” By this he meant that the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9) is untainted by sin’s decay—God is ageless and loves us exuberantly with a love that never falters or fades. He’s fully willing and able to fulfill the promise He made to His people in Isaiah 46: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you” (v. 4).

Five verses later He explains, “I am God, and there is none like me” (v. 9). The great “I am” (Exodus 3:14) loves us so deeply that He went to the extreme of dying on the cross to bear the full weight of our sin, so that we might turn to Him and be free of our burden and gratefully worship Him forever!

By James Banks
REFLECT & PRAY


In what ways does God carry you through each day? How can you draw new strength from Him in this moment?

Beautiful Savior, I’m so thankful Your love for me never grows old! Help my love for You to grow ever deeper.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Through the words of Isaiah, God compares the strength of Babylonian gods to Himself. The specific gods mentioned are Bel and Nebo (Isaiah 46:1–2). Bel, also known as Marduk (Jeremiah 50:2), was the chief god of the city of Babylon and the national god of Babylonia. He was the considered to be the god of order and destiny. Nabu was believed to be the son of Marduk and the one who knows all and sees all. With a twist of irony, God says that He does what these two gods can’t do—rescue His people (Isaiah 46:3–7).

J.R. Hudberg