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Chain of Lakes Videos

Select a link below to view recent past videos of worship services. For all past worship services go to https://vimeo.com/chainoflakes/videos Don’t forget to also check out Pastor Paul’s blog

April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday

April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday

April 6, 2025
“Meet Your Bible”  The Gospels

March 30, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” – The Letters

March 23, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” – The Writings

March 16, 2025
Camp Sunday

March 9, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” – The first five books – the Torah

March 2, 2025
“Everyday Life” – Doubt

February 23, 2025
“Everyday Life” – Anger

February 16, 2025
“Everyday Life” – Grief

February 9, 2025
“Everyday Life” – Anxiety

February 2, 2025
“The Tough Ones” – Who decided what books to include in the Bible?

January 26, 2025
“The Tough Ones” – Why is The Book of Revelation in the Bible?

January 19, 2025
“The Tough Ones” – Are the Old Testament Stories Literal?

January 12, 2025
“The Tough Ones” – Why is God different in the Old Testament compared to the New Testament?

Daily Devotions

Comments about the devotion can be emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Monday, April 21
Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James
and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very
early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the
tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for
us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the
stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the
tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side,
and they were alarmed.  6  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are
looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not
here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter
that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told
you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had
seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

This week we have the opportunity to read each resurrection story along with the
Apostle Paul’s version of the resurrection and the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
Mark was the first gospel that was written down, so this is the first resurrection story of
Jesus that had been written down.
In Mark’s story, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the
tomb. Mark is the only gospel where Jesus didn’t appear in person. In Matthew and
John, Jesus appeared in the resurrection story. In Luke, Jesus appeared to the disciples
on the road to Emmaus.
Mark’s account is the shortest account of the four resurrection stories.
At the end of Mark’s account the women were running from the tomb. They were
experiencing terror and amazement and they said nothing to anyone because they were
afraid.
The ending of Mark was so controversial that later scribes added an ending. It wasn’t
appropriate to end the story with people in this level of fear.
Have we experienced a moment of fear that is similar to what the women experienced in
Mark? Something so awful happened that we were afraid to even talk about it? Please
share.


Tuesday, April 22
Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great
earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled
back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead
men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you
are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised,
as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his
disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of
you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left
the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly
Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his
feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell
my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The resurrection story in Matthew is different than the other gospel stories in that this is
the only story where an earthquake took place. In Matthew an earthquake also took
place when Jesus died, Matthew 27:51.
In Matthew an angel descended from heaven and rolled back the stone that was in front
of the cave or tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed. The angel sat on the
stone. The guards were so afraid that they fainted.
Twice in Matthew’s story we find the phrase, “do not be afraid.” The angel sitting on the
stone shared this with the two women who came to the tomb. Jesus appeared to the
women as they were running away from the tomb and shared the same message.
“Do not be afraid,” is a message that is timeless. No one can ever hear this message
enough. It seems that so much in the world can make each of us afraid. But the
message of the resurrection helps us let go of any fear.
How do you see the connection between the phrase “do not be afraid” and the
resurrection? Please share.


Wednesday, April 23
Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking
the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the
tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were
perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside
them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the
men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not
here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in
Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and
be crucified and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his
words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all
the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and
the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words
seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up
and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by
themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

More women came to the tomb in Luke’s resurrection story than any other story. This
might have been because Luke valued women and their ministry.
When the women came to the tomb they were expecting to anoint a dead body. Instead
they saw that the large stone had been rolled away that was in front of the tomb. Luke
doesn’t tell us how it was rolled away. He just shared this reality.
Only in Luke’s resurrection story did two heavenly messengers appear in the story. The
heavenly messengers shared the eternal message of the resurrection, “Why do you look
for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5
These seventeen words can change the life of anyone. They certainly changed the lives
of the women who were at the tomb. When they heard them, they ran away from the
tomb excited to tell the disciples or apostles what they had heard.
But the apostles did not believe. In Luke it was only after Jesus appeared to some of the
male disciples on the road to Emmaus that they believed that Jesus was risen.
Have you had a moment when you heard news that was so extraordinary that you
wouldn’t allow yourself to believe the news? This moment was so powerful and
meaningful that it was hard to believe. Please share.


Thursday, April 24
John 20:1-10
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came
to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she
ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,
and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not
know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and
went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple
outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the
linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came,
following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying
there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen
wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who
reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they
did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the
disciples returned to their homes.

In John’s writing of the resurrection story, only Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. Like
Luke and Mark the large stone that had been placed in front of the cave had been rolled
away.
Just the reality that the stone had been rolled away was significant to Mary Magdalene.
When she saw the stone had been rolled away, she didn’t even enter the tomb. Instead
she ran to get Peter and the Beloved Disciple.

It’s almost comical to see that John reported that the Beloved Disciple and Peter ran to
the tomb and that the Beloved Disciple outran Peter and arrived first. Maybe he was in
better shape than Peter!
Peter eventually caught up and went into the tomb first. The Beloved Disciple then
followed him.
We don’t read what impact the empty tomb had on Peter, but we do read that the
Beloved Disciple saw and believed.
Have you ever had a moment that changed your belief system? A moment or time that
significantly changed the way you looked at the world? Please share.


Friday, April 25
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news that I
proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through
which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I
proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures and that he was
buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the
scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he
appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of
whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then
to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to
me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his
grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than
any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. Whether
then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

The entire 15 th chapter of 1 Corinthians shares Paul’s thoughts on the resurrection. In
the first eleven verses of this chapter, Paul shared the people whom Jesus appeared to
when he rose from the dead.
He first appeared to Peter, then the twelve disciples—though one wonders if Paul had
this right as Judas had died by suicide. Perhaps the new disciple, Matthias, had joined
the group and saw Jesus. Jesus then appeared to five hundred people. He appeared to
James and the other apostles. And finally Jesus appeared to Paul.
This order must have been important to Paul.
It’s significant that even though Paul or Saul was persecuting Jesus, Jesus still appeared
to them. Jesus never gave up on Paul.

Just as Jesus doesn’t give up on us. What does it mean to you, that Jesus never gives up
on you? Please share.


Saturday, April 26
Mark 5:35-43
While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s
house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any
further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader,
“Do not be afraid; only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter,
James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the synagogue
leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When
he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep?
The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them
all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him
and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand, he said to her,
“Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl
stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they
were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should
know this and told them to give her something to eat.

This story of Jesus healing the daughter of Jairus is very precious—it’s a resurrection
story. Jairus had come to Jesus and asked him to heal her. When Jairus appeared to
Jesus, his daughter was at the point of death. By the time Jesus arrived she was dead.
We are never told her name.
Sleeping is a common euphemism for death in the Bible. When Jesus told the disciples
that Lazarus had died, Jesus used the phrase, “he has fallen asleep.”
This phrase illustrates how Jesus viewed death. It was only a temporary state before a
person experienced heaven.
How do you view your own death? It’s a big question, but an important one for any
human. Do you see death as the end of life? Or do you see it as a transition to heaven?
Please share.

Monday, April 14

Read Luke 19:28-40

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.  As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”  They said, “The Lord needs it.”  Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king
    who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
    and glory in the highest heaven!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

  This week we are going to read the last five chapters of Luke, They are Luke’s version of Holy Week.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem he signified that the Kingdom he was bringing in was vastly different from what most people expected.  By riding on a donkey he was fulfilling the words of the prophet Zechariah.  He was a king, triumphant and victorious.  He was humble and riding on a donkey. 

Jesus was a different kind of king.  He was committed to salvation for people and not oppression of others.  He ruled through a moral force whose arc trended towards justice and righteousness.  He was humble, meaning he was willing to spend time with people who lived on the margins.

When people saw Jesus coming into Jerusalem they cried out in joy.  The people were like angels in heaven who bowed down to worship the king.  In this story the dividing line between heaven and earth was gone. 

 

The religious leaders wanted the people to stop shouting.  But Jesus told them that nothing could stop this moral force that was expressed in the people’s voices.  Even the people stopped shouting; the stones would shout out in praise.  For one brief shining moment heaven and earth were one!

 

Pastor Paul has often talked about the qualities of a servant leader. Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant leader in this story. In what particular ways can you be a servant leader right now? Please share.

 

Tuesday, April 15

Read Luke 19:41-20:47

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there, and he said, “It is written,

‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’
    but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenants and went away for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard, but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!”  But he looked at them and said, “What then does this text mean:

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’?

“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.

So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said and then to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one but teach the way of God in accordance with truth.  Is it lawful for us to pay tribute to Caesar or not?” But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said, and being amazed by his answer they became silent.

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”  Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  Now he is God not of the dead but of the living, for to him all of them are alive.” Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

 Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is David’s son? For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’“David thus calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?”

 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and who love respectful greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

 

 

The glory of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem ended in these verses.  In some of these stories Jesus was confronted by the religious leaders of the day at the temple.  These conversations illustrated the different view of the world that Jesus had compared to these religious leaders.

 

In one story Jesus was confronted by spies sent by the religious leaders. These people wanted to know if Jesus encouraged people to pay taxes.  This seems to be an appropriate question for us right now as today is the deadline for paying taxes in the United States.

 

In being confronted by the question, Jesus was put in a box.  If he said “yes” pay the taxes, then his followers would be upset as they didn’t want to pay taxes to a foreign government.  If he said “no” he could run into conflict with the political rulers.

 

“Give me a coin,” Jesus asked.  A coin was given to him.  On the coin was a picture of Cesar.  Jesus said that if Cesar’s head is on the coin, then Cesar must want the coin.  Give it to him.  “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:25)

 

In his response Jesus made a statement about idolatry and not about paying taxes.  It’s as if Jesus said “Cesar wants this coin as he has his picture on it.  Give it to him. But don’t give ultimate homage to Cesar. Give homage to God.” As a masterful wisdom teacher, Jesus avoided the snare of the question and shared a teacher for his followers.

 

What are your thoughts about this story? Please share.

 

Wednesday, April 16

Read Luke 21:1-38

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”  When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it, for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”  Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

 

 

In the first verses of this chapter Jesus observed a widow put two small copper coins into the treasury of the temple. 

 

Many people were putting gifts into the treasury of the temple.  They were lavish and extravagant gifts.  This was an example of rich people sharing their wealth.

 

The widow was different.  Widows had no source of income; This woman’s source of income (her husband) was gone. She was, by definition, poor.

 

It was a sacrifice for the widow to put two small copper coins into the treasury of the temple.

 

Jesus acknowledged the sacrifice. Her sacrifice was much greater than the extravagant gifts that others were sharing. 

 

The widow is an example of sacrificial giving for us. What are your thoughts about this story? Please share.

 

Thursday, April 17

Read Luke 22:1-65

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” So they went and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat it[c] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. “You are those who have stood by me in my trials, and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded[e] to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!”  Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you have denied three times that you know me.”

He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless,’ and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

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, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 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 though I were a rebel? 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!”

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a female servant, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 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.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men who were holding Jesus[j] began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it who struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him.

 

Jesus had a deep desire to share a Passover celebration with his friends.  This was the last time that Jesus ate a meal while he lived on earth. 

 

In sharing bread and the cup Jesus foreshadowed his death that would take place the next day.

 

This was an intimate moment that is worth remembering on this Holy Thursday.  As you go through this day, reflect on this story of Jesus celebrating with his followers.  The image of this story is a powerful one to carry with us.

 

This intimacy of Jesus and his disciples describes the relationship we have with God. God wants an intimate relationship with us. What does it mean to you to have an intimate relationship with God? Please share.

 

Friday, April 18

Read Luke 22:66-23:56

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. They said, “If you are the Messiah tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus[e] gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!”  (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

 The story of what happened on this day is a sobering reminder of the worst of humanity. Nothing worse has ever happened then the intentional murder of God.

Jesus stayed silent during most of this story. He did encourage his followers in verses 28-31 to weep for themselves and not for him.  He stayed silent when he was before Pilate and Herod and then Pilate again. 

Jesus even stayed silent as he was nailed to the cross.  He stayed silent as he heard the emotional abuse of the crowds and even of the criminal who was next to him.

 

But even though he was silent, the compassion of Jesus still was present.  When one criminal asked for forgiveness, Jesus was quick to share it.  “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” Jesus said.

 

These words are a powerful example of the character of Jesus.  Even while enduring terrible suffering, he was willing to share compassion with another person.

 

What does this mean to you? Please share.

 

Saturday, April 19

Read Luke 24:1-53

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”  Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

 

The darkness of Good Friday was lifted on Sunday.  And it was hard to believe that Jesus had come back to life.  Even the disciples had a hard time believing this when the women came to tell them. (Luke 24:11)

 

The story of Jesus walking to Emmaus is a wonderful story of friendship.  Jesus carefully listened to what the others said had happened. He shared with them that what they had witnessed had been predicted by the prophets. (Luke 24:25-27)

 

When he broke bread with his friends he disappeared. 

 

They were interested in Jesus as their hearts were burning inside of them.  What can you do today to prompt your heart to burn with love and appreciation for the resurrection of Jesus?

Monday, April 7
Read Mark 1:1-8

This past Sunday Pastor Paul preached about the gospel message and the gospels. This week in the devotion we’re going to read the first part and the last part of each gospel.

Mark or John Mark started out his gospel with a high sense of urgency and purpose. He wrote, “The beginning of the good news [or gospel] of Jesus Christ, the son of God.” Mark 1:1

Mark didn’t include a birth story or anything about Jesus when he was younger. In Mark’s gospel Jesus appeared on the scene as an adult. Mark wrote that Jesus was the one about whom the prophet Isaiah had written and was the one for whom John the Baptist prepared the way. John was baptizing with water, but the one who was coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Mark is the shortest gospel of the four. He shared an urgency and immediacy to his story. We can find the word, “immediately” about forty times in this gospel. Mark had no time to waste. He wanted to communicate the message of Jesus with conviction.

Have you had the opportunity to read through Mark’s gospel? If so, what do you find interesting about it? Please share.

Tuesday, April 8
Read Matthew 1:1,17

Matthew wrote for a Jewish audience. So right away he wanted to connect Jesus to the spiritual ancestors who went before him. He describes Jesus as the son of David, the son of Abraham. It was important for Matthew to establish these credentials for the people he was writing to.

Often we skip over this genealogy section of Matthew. We might hear it read at a Christmas program, but rarely would we hear a sermon preached from it.

We can get a sense of the importance of the exile in the last verse of this story. Matthew saw there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen generations from David to the deportation in Babylon or exile (which happened in 587); and fourteen generations from the exile to the birth of Jesus.

Have you had the opportunity to read through Matthew’s gospel. If so, what do you find interesting about it? Please share.

Wednesday, April 9
Read Luke 1:1-4

Of the four gospel writers, Luke is thought of most as a historian. Luke wanted to write down an orderly account of what happened to Jesus. Luke was writing this account for Theophilus. The name Theophilus comes from two parts. The first part is “theo” meaning God; the second part is “philus” or love, from philos.

Luke’s gospel is the second longest—only after Matthew’s. Matthew has more chapters than Luke, but Luke has more verses than any other gospel. Luke went out of his way to share stories where the poor and the marginalized are loved by God. Some have called Luke’s gospel, “the gospel to the outcasts.”

Luke included parables that are not found elsewhere in the gospels like “The Prodigal Son” and “the Good Samaritan.” The first people to communicate the reality of the resurrection were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women. Women were given an honored role in Luke’s gospel.

Have you had the opportunity to read through Luke’s gospel? If so, what do you find interesting about it? Please share.

Thursday, April 10
Read John 1:1-5

John’s gospel is completely different than the other three. It doesn’t follow the same outline as Matthew, Mark and Luke. It doesn’t have parables. What it does have is longer sayings and readings. The chapters of John are longer than the chapters in the other gospels.

In the beginning of this gospel, John wanted to heighten the importance of Jesus by saying that Jesus or the Word had existed ever since the beginning of the world.

Jesus or the Word was going to bring life and light to all people. This life and light would always overcome the darkness.

Many people find tremendous teachings about faith and spirituality in John’s gospel.

Have you had the opportunity to read through John’s gospel? If so, what do you find interesting about it? Please share.

Friday, April 11
Read Mark 16:1-8 & Matthew 28:16-20

Today and tomorrow, we are going to read the end of each gospel.

Mark’s resurrection story is unlike the other three. The first ending of his story has three women running from the tomb saying nothing to anyone for they were afraid. People who read this manuscript of Mark knew that something was not right. For if the women had not said anything, then no one would know about the story. Other endings to the resurrection story in Mark were added.

The ending of Matthew’s story is one of the most familiar commands in the entire Bible. Jesus had taken his disciples to Galilee. Just as he had climbed a mountain to share the famous “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus was again having his disciples climb a mountain or large hill. Jesus was going to give them his marching orders.

We know of these verses as the “Great Commission.” Jesus told his followers to go and make disciples or followers. At Chain of Lakes we live into this command of Jesus as we ask people to become disciples or followers of Jesus.

What are your impressions of these two resurrection stories? Please share.

Saturday, April 12
Read Luke 24:36-53 & John 21:15-25

Luke is the only gospel that has the story of the ascension of Jesus into heaven. As the followers of Jesus were worshiping him Jesus was carried into heaven. Luke 24:51

It’s interesting that Luke has important stories that happened after the resurrection of Jesus. Luke shared stories about the walk to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35 and then the appearance of Jesus to his disciples and his ascension, Luke 24:36-53

At the end of John’s story, John shared the famous story of Peter and Jesus. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him. Each time Peter said yes. Then Peter saw the beloved disciple and Jesus.

The ending of John is especially moving. “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

What are your impressions of these stories? Please share.

 

Events

TwistedScripturesSermonSeries

Community Gardens

Very big pumpkin grown in the Chain of Lakes Community Garden by Jeremy Feuks. 10/7/2021
Chain of Lakes Church is excited to offer a Community Garden Ministry next to the new church building at 2650 125th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55449. It’s just east of  Malmborg’s Garden Center on 125th Ave NE in Blaine or .8 miles east of Radisson Rd on 125th Ave NE, Blaine.
 
The garden is open to the wider community, not just people who attend Chain of Lakes.
 
Contact the office for information at 763.465.8585 or info@colpres.org
 
If you are interested in a garden plot complete this form:
Community Garden Plot Application 2024 – Chain of Lakes
 
Please print and complete the application, and up until May 22, mail to:
Chain of Lakes Church
2650 125th Ave NE
Blaine, MN 55449

Click on Photos for Clear Picture - More Photos on the Local Impact and Youth & Family pages

Some highlights from recent events in the community! Click on image for clear, entire picture