MAY 26

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Mark 3:32-35

“And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.’

 But He answered them, saying, ‘Who is My mother, or My brothers?’   And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother’.”

Ps 68:19

“Blessed be the Lord,  Who daily loads us with benefits,  the God of our salvation!”

John 15:15

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Matthew 20:16

“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Mark 5:19

“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’”

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We will be reading from a book by Erwin Lutzer, President of Moody Bible Institute.  It’s a short book about Christ’s sacrifice for us.  It’s called simply, “For Us.”

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Mark 10:35-45

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask,’  and He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’

 They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’   But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’

 They said to Him, ‘We are able.’

So Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;  but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.’

And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.  But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”

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“Behold, your Mother!”

When Jesus was arrested, the disciples all fled in terror and shame.  The only one at the foot of the cross that day was John.  Apparently, he also had fled.  Imagine his guilt as he slunk back to the One he’d promised to serve —the One in whose kingdom he’d hoped to be exalted!!!

Now, imagine his incredulous joy, even at such  painful time, when Jesus entrusted Mary to him.  Those few words told him everything!  ~   He was forgiven!  ~   He was still loved! ~ and he was to care for someone precious to Jesus!

His immediate response made it clear that he’d given up all thoughts of being exalted and was glad to serve any way he was asked.

Who has your Savior entrusted to you beyond your immediate family?  A young man or woman from a non-believing home to mentor ~ a bedridden saint to visit~ a single parent to comfort and help? ~ a widow to listen to with understanding?

Look around with John’s eyes today and behold your new family members!

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