Jul 23, 2022
JEREMIAH 5-6:
God, speaking through the prophets, frequently
says how he feels about idolatry. He considers it just like the
faithlessness of a wayward wife. It is moving that Jeremiah could
so clearly see what would happen— the anguish of the people when
his prophecies are fulfilled and they will be attacked by armies
from the north.
PSALM
140:
This is a prayer for anyone who fears the
imminent attack of wicked enemies.
JOHN
19a:
The
chapter break here interrupts the story of Jesus’ trial before
Pilate. Jesus has already told Pilate that he is a king, but his
kingdom is not of this world. Then when Jesus said, “I was born and
came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth.
Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”— Pilate asked his
famous rhetorical question,
38“And what is truth?”
Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, “I cannot find any reason to condemn him.
39
But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner
for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the
king of the Jews?”
40
They answered him with a shout, “No, not him! We want Barabbas!”
(Barabbas was a bandit.)
NLT Translation notes:
Jer.
5:6 I said to [You/the] LORD, “You are my God!”
Listen, O LORD, to my cries for
mercy!
11
Don’t let [these] liars prosper here in our
land.
Cause great disasters to fall on [those violent
men//the violent].
12
But I know [that You, Lord//the LORD] will help those they
persecute;
[You/he] will give justice to the
poor.
====
John
19:3 “Hail[ to you,!] King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they
slapped him across the face.
12
Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted,
“If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of [the high king]
Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against
Caesar.”
24
So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for
it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my
garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that
is what they did [(without knowing they were fulfilling
Scripture)].
26
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he
loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, [there/here] is your
son.”
[Here and in verse 27, the
literal Greek is “See-imperative.” It is a matter of interpretation
whether in the first instance Jesus could be saying, “See what I
have become,” or, “Look at that guy next to you. He is your son.”
The difference would be a nod of the head or a motion of Jesus’
eyes. I think that Jesus’ intention was correctly interpreted by
John in 27b.]
27
And he said to this disciple, “[That/Here] is your mother.” And
from then on this disciple took her into his
home.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the
Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day,
which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was
the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten [the deaths of the
crucified men//their deaths] by ordering that their legs be broken.
Then their bodies could be taken down.
35
([John writes a parenthetical comment:] This report is from an
eyewitness giving an accurate account. [I speak/He speaks] the
truth so that you also can believe.)
37
and “They will look on the one they [have] pierced.”
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.