Bible Verse for Today

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night.
— John 19:38-39 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The power of the Cross is demonstrated in the lives of these two men, neither of whom showed himself fully to be a disciple of Jesus in his ministry. Now in his...

 

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
— John 18:2 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Judas knew where to find Jesus during this intense period of religious preparation. It was no secret that Jesus would be with his disciples in the garden praying together. If we had someone who wanted to betray us, where would that person tell our enemies to find us? Would they know where we would go to be in prayer? Interesting questions...

 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
— 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God's ultimate "foolishness" is his willingness to use the cross to bring others to him. At first glance, the cross is a hideous and horrible tool. In our human wisdom, we could never visualize using a man crucified as criminal scum to capture the hearts of the world. But God does. The cross transcends cultural...

 

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
— John 13:15-16 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Before Jesus went to the cross, he showed his disciples what it means to live in a cross-centered community: he took the position of a household slave and washed his disciples' feet. He did it knowing they would run from him, disown him, betray him, and deny him...

 

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
— John 12:46 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...One of the great stories in the Gospel of John is Nicodemus. He came to Jesus at night and Jesus told him that those who love the truth come to the light. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus even though he was ridiculed for it. Then, at the worst possible time politically and religiously, he showed himself as Jesus' disciple: he took the...

 

When he [Judas] was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him."
— John 13:31 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...In the powerful old hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," we sing "my glory all the cross." That was genuinely true of Jesus. While other human leaders try to find glory in all sorts of ways, Jesus' path to glory was the cross, because he was not after acclaim, but wanted to obey and glorify the Father! When Judas left the Last Supper, the final...

 

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
— John 13:21 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I can still remember my friend saying it in church one Sunday: "We think so badly of old Judas for betraying the Lord for 30 pieces of silver, but how many times do we betray him for nothing?" Ouch! What makes this so difficult for us to bear is Jesus' anguish knowing one of his own would betray him. Let's make...

 

He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
— Colossians 1:22 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."Christians aren't perfect; they're just forgiven." We know we are not perfect. We know our weaknesses, inadequacies, sinfulness, pettiness, immaturity, cowardice ... But Jesus demonstrated his love for us on the Cross as he offered his body and shed his blood. His sacrifice means that God looks at...

 

...while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
— Titus 2:13-14 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Some of the most basic and elevated statements about Jesus are made in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These letters are devoted to help ministers mature churches in difficult places. They are...

 

Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
— Proverbs 20:22 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Revenge is Satan's way of destroying both the innocent and the offender. Once vengeance becomes the motivation, the wounded party can suddenly be swept up in rage and hatred. This poison spreads to everything the vengeful person touches. On earth, we can see that we will never find perfect and complete justice, no matter the "goodness" of the...