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Monday
Read Mark 1:1-11
The Gospel of Mark begins with these words: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The term for gospel (“euangelion” in the Greek) means “good news,” and that good news is the proclamation that God has taken action on our behalf by sending Jesus into the world.
Mark is the earliest of the four gospels and also the shortest (only about 20 pages, depending on the size of print and layout). It is also the account of the life of Jesus that focuses on action, making it an exciting read. The note that prefaces the book of Mark in the Common English Bible tells us that the Gospel of Mark is “a relentless story about Jesus’ announcement of God’s righteous kingdom and the acts that accompany this proclamation: Jesus banishes demons, teaches about God’s kingdom, and challenges religious and political structures that are harmful to human well-being. At times, people respond in faith, trusting in Jesus’ compassion and divine authority. Though Jesus dies on the cross, once again evil is overcome as God raises him from the dead.”
One of the distinctions of our story as Christ followers is that we believe that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. We believe Jesus was a historical Person, was born a human baby, and lived a human existence, just as we do. And we also believe that Jesus was (and is) fully God. As one theologian puts it: “Christians don’t just believe that Jesus was much like God; we think God is who Jesus is. In Jesus the reign of God broke through to the world.” (William Willimon)
This is the story of the man, Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection made it possible for us to be in right relationship with God. This Jesus is also the Son of God and today sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for those who put their faith and trust in Him. This is also our story, for we are invited to follow Christ and to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.
We thank God for breaking into our world in the person of Jesus, His Son. May we know and experience the Good News of Jesus more fully as we continue down the path of discipleship this week.
Questions
Who has Jesus been to you throughout your life? When did you fully understand who Jesus is? If someone in your circle asked you, “Who is Jesus?” what answer would you give?
Prayers
For Shepherd’s Pantry
Shepherd’s Pantry is now serving an average of 3,200 households each month across its three distribution sites. They ask for continued provision of monetary donations and grants, ensuring that Shepherd’s Pantry has the financial resources necessary to operate and expand its reach.
Tuesday
Read Philippians 2:5-11
Fully Human, Fully Divine
Christ-followers believe that Jesus was born as a human baby at a specific time in history and in a specific place, that He experienced human life, including all of the emotions and the physicality of a human body. Because of this, Jesus understands what it means to be us; He is relatable. And we believe that Jesus died willingly, giving up His life for ours.
We also believe that Jesus is divine, sharing the same divine nature as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Christ is eternal and possesses all of the attributes of God. Because of this, Jesus has the power to set us free from sin and death, to reconcile us fully to God. This set of ideas—that Jesus is both human and divine at the same time—is known as the “Incarnation.”
The reality that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine is revealed throughout the New Testament. For example, we see that Jesus is “the one who rules over all things, who is God” (Romans 9:5), and that “all the fullness of deity lives in Christ’s body” (Colossians 2:9). Perhaps the most well-known passage that reveals the true nature of Christ as fully human and fully divine is today’s Scripture reading, Philippians 2:5-11. We are going to park ourselves here and reflect on the significance of Jesus leaving heaven to be “God on the loose” on earth. Paul writes:
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on the cross.
“Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus in His divinity reveals to us who God is; in His humanity He relates to us in our struggles. As we fix our eyes on Jesus this week, may we learn new ways to follow Him and trust in Him.
Questions
How does the fact that Christ is both fully human and fully divine bring you hope? What are some ways we can let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus?
Prayers
For Shepherd’s Pantry
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts for the continued growth and impact of Shepherd’s Pantry. We pray for Your divine guidance as the staff members explore options for expanding the facilities. Grant them wisdom and discernment as they navigate this process, and may their efforts be blessed by Your hand.
Wednesday
Read Mark 4:35-41
Fully Divine
Today we reflect more on the reality that Jesus is the Son of God. This account in Mark 4 is one of many examples that demonstrates the divine nature of Christ in a dramatic way. Jesus and the disciples are halfway across the lake when they are caught in a great windstorm. Their boat begins to fill with water as the waves crash over the sides. When the disciples call out to Jesus for help, He commands the wind and the waves to stop and be still. What must it have been like to be there and hear Jesus talk to the elements as he did? And then to see them respond? No wonder the disciples were filled with awe and asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (4:41).
If you attended church in the late 1980s and early 1990s, you may remember singing the worship song “Majesty” by Pastor Jack Hayford.
Majesty, worship His Majesty!
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty, Kingdom authority,
Flows from His throne, unto His own,
His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King.
Majesty, worship His Majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all kings.
Writing about the song, Jack Hayford comments, “For years I have been convinced that the provisions of Christ for the believer not only include our forgiveness for sin, but provide restoration to a royal relationship with God as sons and daughters born into the family through His Majesty, our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This Majestic Christ, commands not just the winds and the waves, but also all principalities and powers (Romans 8:38-39). Because of the majesty of Christ, part of our story is that we have access to the power of God over sin and death. Thanks be to God!
May we never forget that Jesus is God and we are not. Today bring to Jesus all praise and thanks for who He is and for what He has done.
Questions
How might we, as royal sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom, reflect the majesty of Christ? In our families? In our church? In our community and world?
Prayers
For Shepherd’s Pantry
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts for the ways You have already blessed Shepherd’s Pantry and the community it serves. We specifically lift up the Shepherd’s Help Fund and pray that You would open the hearts and hands of those who are able to give. Guide them to see the vital role this fund plays in providing essential support.
Thursday
Read John 11:1-44
Fully Human
Because Jesus was human, we know that He got hungry, thirsty, and tired. We know that He grew up in a family and developed in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). The Bible tells us that as an adult He traveled around Galilee and Jerusalem with a band of followers, engaging with them in everyday life. He managed disagreements, answered questions, spent of lot of time talking and walking. He healed the sick and cast out demons, even raised people from the dead. He also spent time with friends, often visiting Lazarus, Mary, and Martha’s home in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem.
John 11 is the account of Martha’s powerful confession of faith, which is followed by the resurrection of her brother, Lazarus. Note that when Martha questions Jesus about not arriving in time to save Lazarus’ life, He responds with one of His seven “I am” statements: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). He challenges her, asking, “Do you believe this?” (vv. 25–26). Without hesitation Martha answers: “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” (v. 27). In this story we see Christ’s humanity (Jesus wept!) right alongside his divinity (the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead).
As a twelve-year-old, these stories of Jesus in the New Testament held great appeal for me. While God the Father seemed distant, foreign, and even judgmental, Jesus the Son seemed like someone I could talk to, confide in. In that season of my life, a favorite hymn of mine, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” helped me make the decision to follow Christ wholeheartedly. The truth of lines like these took root in my soul: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear,” and “Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?”
This is the appeal of the humanity of Jesus—He is approachable and relatable. And yet, He is God. It’s as if God knew what we needed—a friend AND a Redeemer.
Questions
Martha’s confession of faith is similar to Peter’s (see Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29). Have you made this confession of faith? If not, perhaps this might be the time to take that step. If so, take this opportunity to make that confession again, speaking it out loud. There is great power in the spoken word!
Prayers
For Shepherd’s Pantry
Heavenly Father, we lift Shepherd’s Pantry up to You with grateful hearts. We pray especially for the staff, interns, and volunteers who work tirelessly to meet these needs. Grant them continued good health, both physical and mental, to sustain them in this important work. In moments of stress and challenge, fill them with Your patience, enabling them to serve with compassion and grace.
Friday
Read John 1:14
In 1995 singer Joan Osborne recorded the song “One of Us,” which invites us to imagine what it would be like to encounter God in person with lyrics like these:
If God had a name, what would it be?
And would you call it to His face
If you were faced with Him in all His glory?
…
What if God was one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus, tryin’ to make His way home.
The fact that the song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1996 Grammy Awards, and that Osborne was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song, speaks to the deep hunger we all have to know God. As Christ followers, we don’t have to imagine what God is like. Jesus Himself reveals who God is to us. As we read the Bible, participate in corporate worship, and practice living out our faith in the world, we continue to grow in our understanding of the nature of God.
It is hard to summarize the Incarnation in a few short devotional messages. One way to think of it is that in Jesus the reign of God broke through to the world. Or consider Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of John 1:14 in his paraphrase of the Bible, The Message: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” The word picture “God with skin on” is also helpful. The truth is that Jesus came to earth fully human and fully divine so that we could live in right relationship with God.
Today Jesus no longer walks the earth in human form; but as the Body of Christ, we carry on the work of making Jesus known in our respective neighborhoods. With the Holy Spirit living in us, and strengthened by our connection to other believers, we take on the privilege of being part of God’s redemptive work in the world.
Jesus, as we move through 2025, help us to grow in our understanding of who You are and help us to be intentional about sharing You with those around us.
Questions
What would happen if Jesus moved into your neighborhood? How might you follow Christ more intentionally in 2025?
Prayers
For Shepherd’s Pantry
Heavenly Father, we lift up Shepherd’s Pantry to You during this time of transition. May the new Executive Director be a person of integrity, vision, and compassion, someone who will embrace the mission of Shepherd’s Pantry and lead it to even greater heights. We pray that it will thrive and grow under new leadership, always reflecting Your love and grace.
Sources
- William H. Willimon, Incarnation: The Surprising Overlap of Heaven and Earth (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013).
- “Preface” to the Gospel of Mark, Common English Bible, published by Christian Resources Development Corporation, 2011.
- Jack Hayford, “The Birth of Majesty” can be found at https:www.jackhayford.org/teaching/articles/the-birth-of-majesty.
- “One of Us,” song sung by Joan Osborne, written by Eric Bazillian, distributed by Blue Gorilla and Mercury, 1995.
- “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” hymn written by Joseph Medlicott Scriven, 1885 (public domain).
