Author: Norm

Reflecting on Matthew 57-67 “But Jesus remained silent.” (Matthew 26:63)As a Jesus follower, I want to learn the wisdom of silence.Not always, but knowing when it is wise to remain silent.There is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) When someone is criticizing or challenging me, I should pause.Do they really want to…

Reflecting on Matthew 47-56 “Put your sword back in its place!” (Matthew 26:52)As a Jesus follower, non-violence needs to be a priority.This is a hard thing to consider, especially when threatened.Christians are divided over this issue, some ready to draw their swords.They can use the Old Testament to justify this.But they cannot use Jesus to justify this….

Reflecting on Matthew 26:36-46 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41)As a Jesus follower I feel the need to watch and pray.Jesus is urging disciples to pay attention and be alert.Yet does this mean we should be paranoid, seeing evil everywhere?How do we experience the peace of Jesus like this?How do…

Reflecting on Matthew 26:36-46. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” (Matthew 26:39)As a follower of Jesus, I can relate to this prayer.There have been many times when I’ve prayed, ‘God, please, no!’Sometimes the Father does take the cup away.But many times I had to drink the cup anyway. Recently I…

Reflecting on Matthew 26:31-35. “‘I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.” (Matthew 26:35)Years ago I made a decision to be a Jesus follower.If you had asked me then, I probably would have said what Peter said.Actually, it was not just Peter: all the other disciples said the same!This is both humbling…

Reflecting on Matthew 26:26-30 Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us all to be close to God and You, to sit and eat with God and You, and to know that we are loved and forgiven despite our flaws, foibles and failures. I welcome your sacrifice of love, and I offer my own with You to…

Reflecting on Matthew 26:17-25 “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!” (Matthew 26:24)Have you ever warned someone by saying ‘woe to you’?It is not a word I would normally use, but it sounds ominous.The lexicon says the word ‘ouai’ is an exclamation of grief.Can you can hear the grief in Jesus when He…

Reflecting on Matthew 26:14-16 “One of the twelve … went to the chief priests.” (Matthew 26:14)As a Jesus follower, I am also in a sense “one of the twelve”.Not the original twelve, but those following with and after them.It is easy to look down on Judas and say, “shame on you!” Judas was disappointed with the way…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 26:6-13 What do you sense Jesus saying to you in this passage? “The poor you will always have with you.” (Matthew 26:11)Matthew focusses on the indignation of the disciples.Did they really care about the poor (see John 12:1-8)?Jesus is not justifying ignoring the poor.He is honouring the deep devotion and love of this…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 26:1-5 What do you sense Jesus saying to you in this passage? “They schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.” (Matthew 26:3)In these verses we have a sense of what is happening from two perspectives.Jesus has a sense of destiny, what He must do to maximize God’s purpose.The religious leaders have…