Blessing Our Community - Day 1
DAY 1 - Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Scripture Insights
Death on a cross was a form of execution the Romans used to intimidate the people they had conquered and terrorize them into submission. It was a very painful way to die. But it was also degrading. They not only wanted to make you suffer, but they also wanted to strip you of your honor. As such, the cross was symbolic of the unstoppable military power of the Roman Empire and a symbol of shame and humiliation for those who were their enemies.
But Jesus changed the symbol. Jesus chose the cross. He died because his obedience led him there. He laid his life down as a ransom for many. Jesus took the symbol of Caesar’s raw power and made it speak of God’s sacrificial love. He took the symbol of shame and humiliation and made it speak of servanthood and salvation. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).
When God raised Jesus from the dead, it was a way of saying this way is better. The resurrection vindicated the path of obedience that Jesus had chosen and declared that the real way to life is one that stops grasping and starts giv- ing. Suffering love and servanthood to “the least of these” (see Matthew 25:40) may look like a step down, but in the kingdom of God, you have to step down to step up. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ takes humiliation and turns it into exaltation.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank you that Jesus’s death and resurrection show us that the greatest life is the one given for the sake of others. Help us lay down our lives in the service of your kingdom.
What is the Spirit saying to you today?
—David A. Busic General Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Scripture Insights
Death on a cross was a form of execution the Romans used to intimidate the people they had conquered and terrorize them into submission. It was a very painful way to die. But it was also degrading. They not only wanted to make you suffer, but they also wanted to strip you of your honor. As such, the cross was symbolic of the unstoppable military power of the Roman Empire and a symbol of shame and humiliation for those who were their enemies.
But Jesus changed the symbol. Jesus chose the cross. He died because his obedience led him there. He laid his life down as a ransom for many. Jesus took the symbol of Caesar’s raw power and made it speak of God’s sacrificial love. He took the symbol of shame and humiliation and made it speak of servanthood and salvation. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).
When God raised Jesus from the dead, it was a way of saying this way is better. The resurrection vindicated the path of obedience that Jesus had chosen and declared that the real way to life is one that stops grasping and starts giv- ing. Suffering love and servanthood to “the least of these” (see Matthew 25:40) may look like a step down, but in the kingdom of God, you have to step down to step up. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ takes humiliation and turns it into exaltation.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank you that Jesus’s death and resurrection show us that the greatest life is the one given for the sake of others. Help us lay down our lives in the service of your kingdom.
What is the Spirit saying to you today?
—David A. Busic General Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene
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Day 32: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 32Day 33: Leviticus 1-4; Psalm 33Day 34: Leviticus 5-6; Psalm 34Day 35: Leviticus 7-9; Psalm 35Day 36: Leviticus 10-12; Psalm 36Day 37: Leviticus 13; Psalm 37Day 38: Leviticus 14-15; Psalm 38Day 39: Leviticus 16-17; Psalm 39Day 40: Leviticus 18-20; Psalm 40Day 41: Leviticus 21-23; Psalm 41Day 42: Leviticus 24-25; Psalm 42Day 43: Leviticus 26-27; Psalm 43Day 44: Numbers 1-2; Psalm 44Day 45: Numbers 3; Psalm 45Day 46: Numbers 4-6; Psalm 46Day 47: Numbers 7; Psalm 47Day 48: Numbers 8-10; Psalm 48Day 49: Numbers 11-13; Psalm 49Day 50: Numbers 14-15; Psalm 50Day 51: Numbers 16-17; Psalm 51Day 52: Numbers 18-20; Psalm 52Day 53: Numbers 21-22; Psalm 53Day 54: Numbers 23-25; Psalm 54Day 55: Numbers 26-28; Psalm 55Day 56: Numbers 29-30; Psalm 56Day 57: Numbers 31-32; Psalm 57Day 58: Numbers 33-35; Psalm 58Day 59: Numbers 36 - Deuteronomy 1; Psalm 59Day 60: Deuteronomy 2-3; Psalm 60
March
Day 61: Deuteronomy 4-6; Psalm 61Day 62: Deuteronomy 7-9; Psalm 62Day 63: Deuteronomy 10-11; Psalm 63Day 64: Deuteronomy 12-14; Psalm 64Day 65: Deuteronomy 15-17; Psalm 65Day 66: Deuteronomy 18-20; Psalm 66Day 67: Deuteronomy 21-23; Psalm 67Day 68: Deuteronomy 24-26; Psalm 68Day 69: Deuteronomy 27-28; Psalm 69Day 70: Deuteronomy 29-30; Psalm 70Day 71: Deuteronomy 31-32; Psalm 71Day 72: Deuteronomy 33 - Joshua 2; Psalm 72Day 73: Joshua 3-5; Psalm 73Day 74: Joshua 6-7; Psalm 74Day 75: Joshua 8-10; Psalm 75Day 76: Joshua 11-12; Psalm 76Day 77: Joshua 13-16; Psalm 77Day 78: Joshua 17-19; Psalm 78Day 79: Joshua 20-22; Psalm 79Day 80: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 80Day 81: Judges 1-3; Psalm 81Day 82: Judges 4-5; Psalm 82Day 83: Judges 6-7; Psalm 83Day 84: Judges 8-9; Psalm 84Day 85: Judges 10-12; Psalm 85Day 86: Judges 13-15; Psalm 86Day 87: Judges 16-18; Psalm 87Day 88: Judges 19; Psalm 88Day 89: Judges 20-21; Ruth 1; Psalm 89Day 90: Ruth 2-4; Psalm 90Blessing Our Community - Day 1
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