A congregation of the PCA in Franklin, NC

Author: David Izquierdo (Page 1 of 9)

The Thing about Doubt

John 20:24-31 (ESV)

Doubt’s Distrust

24: Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25: So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Doubt’s Defeat

26: Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27: Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28: Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Faith’s Triumph

29: Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31: but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

To the Least of These – November 24, 2024

John 20:11-18 (ESV)

The Joy of Anticipation

11: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12: And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13: They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

The Timing of Recognition

14: Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15: Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16: Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

The Glory of Exaltation

17: Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18: Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Inventory in an Empty Tomb

November 20, 2024

John 20:1-10 (ESV)

The Word We Forget

1: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2: So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

The Evidence We See

3: So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4: Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5: And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6: Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7: and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

The Faith We Express

8: Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9: for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10: Then the disciples went back to their homes.

The Cross, October 27, 2024

John 19:23-27 (ESV)

The Grace of Prophecy

23: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,

24: so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,

The Grace of Provision

25: but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

27: Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

A Different Kind of King, 3 – October 20, 2024

John 19:16-22 (ESV)

A Place and a Sign

16: So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

17: and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

18: There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

A King and His Kingdom

19: Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

20: Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

A Claim and a Confirmation

21: So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’”

22: Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

The Gospel According to Pilate September 22, 2024

John 18:33-40 (ESV)

Two Kingdoms

33: So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34: Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

35: Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

36: Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

One Truth

37: Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

38: Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

39: But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40: They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Context of the Christ

September 15, 2024

John 18:28-32 (ESV)

Defilement

28: Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

Accusation

29: So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

30: They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

Punishment

31: Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

32: This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Two Trials, Three Denials

September 8, 2024

John 18:12-27 (ESV)

The Trial

12: So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

13: First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14: It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

19: The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20: Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

21: Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

22: When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”

23: Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

24: Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The Denial

15: Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,

16: but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

17: The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

18: Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

25: Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26: One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”

27: Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

The Last Hours, September 1st, 2024

John 18:1-11 (ESV)

Intimacy and Treachery

1: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

2: Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

3: So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Surrender and Prophecy

4: Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

5: They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

6: When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7: So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8: Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

9: This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Ignorance and Submission

10: Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11: So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

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