Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

Just thought we needed a picture of this cutie who finished first grade yesterday! Scripture: Luke 22:66   When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!” Observation: It was dawn and Jesus stood trial before the Sanhedrin. Different words were used here to describe who Jesus was, the first being Messiah. They asked him point blank whether he was the Messiah and his response challenged them at the point of their unbelief. If he would have told ...

So, this family shot made us look like a circus! Many years ago -- enjoying a day in Rome.  Scripture: Luke 22:63   Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him. Observation: This little scene from the night of Jesus’ capture is hard to read. Jesus had just glanced at Peter who had responded with conviction and weeping, feeling guilty for his denial. These men had no respect for Jesus. They mocked him, making fun of the words that he had spoken. They moved from words to physical beatings. These are people who should have had respect for a prophet, but now they don’t even give him an ounce of honor. Instead, they teased him, making fun of his prophetic skills, wanting him to respond as if he were a magic act in a circus. Evidently Luke runs out of descriptors and finally just announces that they “kept heaping may other ins...

Scripture: Luke 22:54   Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bit...

Scripture: Luke 22:47   While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!” Observation: This is such a familiar scene, and yet, maybe it isn’t. As it opens, there remains a juxtaposition between the disciples, ...

Ancient olive trees on the Mount of Olives Scripture: Luke 22:39   He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” a   41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” 43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. a ] 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” a   Observation: Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray, where he must have gone often. Jesus, knew what was ahead, and chal...