I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. – John 17:4
Explained in “Redemptive Work Finish” is that Jesus devoted His entire life to every detail of God’s plan as laid out in the Scriptures. He demonstrated poise under tremendous stress as His life was freely given up as the sacrifice for you and me so the debt of sin was paid.
Let us celebrate today with the song Gratitude – Brandon Lake. Like the song says, with arms stretched wide, let us throw up our hands, sing hallelujah, and praise again!
If we focus on God’s promises, we have hope that inspires us to be persistent even when it is hard to be optimistic because our attention is on the reward rather than the difficulty so we endure. Our mind is constantly at work finding a solution and our heart acts on these solutions until there is accomplishment because we approach all the activities of our day with the joyful awareness of God’s ability to bring a victorious finish.
Reading today about Jesus’ finished work in John 19:17-30 that brings a victorious finish for all who accept His sacrifice, Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS (v. 19). The chief priests complained saying the notice should say that Jesus claimed to be king of the Jews (v. 21). Pilate answered them in verse 22.
“What I have written, I have written.”
The significance of the statement “KING OF THE JEWS” remained. Jesus devoted His life to every detail of God’s plan as laid out in the Old Testament. Jesus demonstrated poise under tremendous stress. His life was freely given up as the sacrifice for you and me. Jesus’ work was finished. He fulfilled many prophecies found in scripture and finished the redemptive work given to Him by God. The debt for sin had been paid.
“This day with You God, we have read the historical record that shows us that You love us so much that You sent Jesus to die for us. The work of Jesus was finished on the cross so that Your plan laid out in the Old Testament is carried out. By accepting Jesus in our heart, we have a fresh start. We can step ahead to an awesome future by witnessing amazing things, storing them in our core, and sharing them with others. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
A thought from John 1:1-18 is that we live in a sometimes dark world, but if the Word of God is opened, we can see the Light and can be set free. We can study, pray, and apply our faith by following Jesus who is the Light to freedom. Then we can help reveal this Light by bearing witness to the freedom gained by following this light.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. – Ephesians 6:10-11
From “Power for this Day” noted is that your greatest strength comes from God because of Christ. A power is available that can move mountains, calm storms, and bring you through.
Jesus carried the weight of the world on His shoulders. Like the song Shoulders – For King & Country, He will carry you.
What are the strongest days of the week? Saturday and Sundays. The rest are weak-days. [1]
Today may be a weekday but with God there is power to handle any blow from our foe because of the strength received from our triune God. There is no need to retaliate because God determines our fate. Life can be a challenge but we have all we need because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Available is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The love displayed on the cross changes everything because we receive boldness, courage, and strength to take on each challenge of each day.
On the journey today as we read John 19:1-16, we are getting to the recorded events that are leading up to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Pilate had said that he found no basis for a charge against Jesus but he had Jesus flogged (v. 1) and dressed Jesus in a purple robe wearing a crown of thorns (v. 5). The Jews wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy because Jesus called God his own Father. Jesus said that He and the Father are one. That the signs and miracles prove that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father.
Pilate tried to find a way out to set Jesus free and even told Jesus that he had the power to free him or to crucify him (v. 10). Pilate misunderstood Jesus’ power which came from above and not from worldly power. Pilate yielded to the wishes of the Jews’ demands and handed Jesus over to them to be crucified (v. 16).
As we give thought to the power from above, let us remember that our greatest power comes from the triune God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Because of Christ, we have access to this ONE true God who moves mountains, calms the sea, and sooths sorrows. Jesus carried the weight of the world on His shoulders and He will carry all who believe that He and the Father are ONE.
This day is not a week day but a day of power because of You God and Your mighty power. Available is the power to move mountains, calm storms, sooth sorrows, and even bring new life. Jesus has carried the weight on His shoulders, and He will carry us through this day. We can absorb any blow tried by our foe. We have boldness, courage, and power to take on what comes our way because of what was done on the cross. For in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 
