Devo: John 3:16-21

16”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s
one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men
loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who
does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it
may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Meditation
1. Nicodemus who was a Pharisee, one night he decided to speak to Jesus and
question him. It was through this line of questioning that Nicodemus truly
began to understand the teachings of Jesus and was helped “out of the dark”
and into a new life of “light.”
2. How do I view the time I have spent wandering in darkness, maybe struggling
against new birth?

Personal Note:
The famous John 3:16 verse is taken from the context of a Pharisee approaching Jesus at night.  Jesus shared the Gospel with him.  My encouragement is that there are people who are seeking and searching for life, but they are afraid to seek publicly because of social pressure.  I would like to share the light to whomever approaches me.

Devo Psalm 13

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and every day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
   for he has been good to me.

Personal Note:
God, I am feeling deep sorrow in my heart.  My heart is faint and weak.  I am in times of fear, hopelessness, darkness, confusion, weakness, and despair.  I feel like I am trying to seek after you and you are hiding in the dark.  There is so much darkness in this world and you said you are the light of the world.  Unless you give me light and guidance, I will be lost in this darkness.  LORD, you are calling me to believe and put my trust in your unfailing love.

Where am I now if I did not receive your salvation?  My heart rejoices and you are my only hope.  I am certain of you coming again and restore this world without pain, sorrow, sin.  Until that day, I will continue to worship you.  I will continue to dwell in your Words to bring healing to my soul.  I will continue to pray for seeking closer to you.

Mark 15:33-47

 33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling
Elijah.” 36One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and
offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to
take him down,” he said. 37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38The curtain
of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion,
who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said,
“Surely this man was the Son of God!” 40Some women were watching from a
distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the
younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed
him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him
to Jerusalem were also there. 42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before
the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent
member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went
boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44Pilate was surprised to hear that he
was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already
died. 45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to
Joseph. 46So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in
the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against
the entrance of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw
where he was laid.

Meditation
The death of Jesus has been recorded in all four gospels. Different people
reacted differently. If I were there in person, what would be my reaction and
my emotion?

Personal Note:
I would be afraid when I witness the horror who what's happening to Jesus Christ and the earth being shaken.