Daily Morning Watch

September 10, 2024

Notice verse 34. We humans often use language that exaggerates: “I thought I would die!” Jesus didn't do that. He really felt He might die, and Ellen White tells us He could have, if an angel hadn't come to encourage Him in the garden. His greatest test and temptation were right here in the garden. Why should He go through a horrific form of execution for people who misunderstood or outright mocked Him? Much, much worse, why should He go through the torment we can never understand, of being separated from His Father? Only one reason: Love. How did Jesus arm Himself?

September 9, 2024

It is interesting to compare this chapter with Matthew 24. Do you find any extra details that one disciple or the other adds to our understanding? Many people in the past two centuries or so have chosen one date or another as the day when the world will end. As I write this, another such day has come and gone three days ago. We can be safe from the confusion and ridicule this brings if we just remember Jesus' words here. Let's leave it to God to decide when the right day comes.

September 8, 2024

If you had asked her, this widow would never have thought she was mighty! She would have said that all she had was a mite—a half-penny—but it was all God's, along with herself. Little did she know her story would be so mighty that it would be told for thousands of years! Little did she know that she, like the children, would be a blessing to Jesus during His difficult last week on earth. Do you have a mite that could be mighty for God?

September 7, 2024

Have you ever thought about the family who owned the donkey? There has to be more to this story than we know; otherwise, the simple words, “The Lord has need of it” would not have had the power they did. These people must have known Jesus, and believed. Is there anything you have that the Lord has need of? What will You do if He asks for it?

September 6, 2024

Each gospel contains a turning point after which Jesus' focus is toward Jerusalem. This is Mark's turning point chapter. We have the Pharisees arguing with Him and testing Him, the rich young ruler turning away from Him, and His sufferings foretold. But in the middle is a little gem of a story. We think of it as Jesus blessing the children, and so it is, but I have titled it the way I have because I believe the children, in their innocence and love, were a blessing to Jesus at this time, too. How can you bless Jesus' heart this week?

September 5, 2024

Just down from a high and holy mountaintop experience with God, Jesus and His three closest followers are confronted with a crisis. The father's prayers have not yet been answered, even by Jesus' followers, who have successfully cast out demons before, so we can understand his doubts and fears. He does exactly the right thing with them—gives them straight to Jesus. Have you handed your doubts and fears over to Him?

September 4, 2024

It must have been so frustrating to feed thousands of people with a one-person lunch and then have the Pharisees demanding a sign! What did they call what they'd just seen? On top of that, the disciples misunderstand, too. Jesus brings it all down to the bottom line—Whom do we say He is? A speaker once said, “Jesus is to you exactly who you think He is. If you don't believe, that doesn't change His identity, but it keeps you from His blessing.” So...whom do you think He is?

September 3, 2024

In order to understand this passage, we must understand Jewish ritual law. One rule is to pour water three times over the left hand, holding the pitcher in the right hand, then do the same with the opposite hands, all while saying the correct blessings! Meanwhile, as long as one did all the rituals perfectly, it didn't matter whether one was loving or not. Why do you think Jesus had a problem with this? What is it that truly has power to defile us?

September 2, 2024

A lot happens in this chapter. Most of it is miraculous; one story is horrible. But God's presence is seen throughout, even in John's faithfulness to death. There is an important lesson in the middle. When the disciples come back from their journeys to tell Jesus all their stories, He says, “Come and rest.” Today, we often forget that God wants us to take good care of ourselves in order to continue to work for Him. Even Sabbath is a busy day for many in His fields. How can we get enough time off without shirking our work?