Week 9 Thursday
Today God institutes the Passover as He rescues Israel from Egypt, David's words of betrayal echo forward into Jesus' own story, and Jesus wrestles in prayer at Gethsemane before His arrest and Peter's denial.
Exodus 12
📖 What are we reading?: God institutes the Passover - the blood of a lamb marks the Israelite homes so that the plague of death passes over them, and Israel is finally released from Egypt.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He is both a God of judgement and of gracious rescue - the same night that brings judgement on Egypt brings salvation to all who shelter under the blood of the lamb.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: The lamb here is a "type" of Christ - just as the blood of the lamb caused death to pass over Israel's households, Jesus' blood now brings us salvation from sin, self, and Satan. And just as Israel was told to get up and leave Egypt, we too are called to leave our old lives of captivity behind.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Exodus, meaning "departure", was written by Moses around 1400 BC, and tells of Israel's miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt - a rescue Israel was called to remember for generations, and a picture of Christ's greater deliverance from sin.
📝 A devotion explaining how Jesus is our new Passover Lamb.
Psalm 41
📖 What are we reading?: David prays for mercy while sick and betrayed by a close friend, and reflects on how the Lord sustains those who care for the weak. Remarkably, David's words in verse 9 about a close friend turning against him were later echoed by Jesus Himself, describing Judas' betrayal which we are also reading today.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He protects those who care for the weak. He sustains us on our sickbeds (verse 3) and lifts us up before our enemies. Praise Him today like David does at the end of this Psalm!
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: David reminds us to care for the poor and needy (verse 1), to live with integrity (verse 12), and to always give praise to God (verse 13).
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
📝 A devotion about false accusations, like the ones David faced in this psalm.
Luke 22:39-62
📖 What are we reading?: Jesus agonises in prayer at Gethsemane, is betrayed by Judas with a kiss and arrested, and Peter denies knowing Him three times before the rooster crows.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: Even in His deepest anguish, Jesus submits to the Father's will - "not my will, but yours be done" (verse 42) - and when Peter fails Him utterly, Jesus turns and looks at him (verse 61) rather than turning away.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: Many of us will recognise something of Peter in ourselves - bold one moment, and failing under pressure the next. Jesus' look towards Peter wasn't one of condemnation but the beginning of his restoration - a reminder that failure is never the end of the story with Jesus.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's Gospel was written by Luke, a Greek physician and companion of Paul, around AD 60-62. It is the most detailed account of Jesus' life, and is especially attentive to the poor, to women, and to outcasts.
🎤 Luke shares a week of devotions on Peter’s denial and later redemption.
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You that Your blood shelters us from judgement, just as the lamb's blood sheltered Israel; and thank You that even betrayal and failure could not stop You from going to the cross for us. When we fail You like Peter, turn and look at us too, and restore us. Amen.
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