Seeking Jesus First - August 25, 2026

“Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen and Yet Have Believed”

Please Read John 20:24–29 (NKJV)

Reflection

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas had missed the first appearance. When the others testified, he refused to believe without physical proof. Eight days later Jesus came again, this time with Thomas present. He did not shame him. He met him at the point of his demand and invited him to touch the wounds. Thomas’s response was immediate and complete: “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus received the confession, then spoke a blessing that reaches all the way to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Faith that rests on the testimony of the Word and the witness of the Spirit is not second-class faith. It is the faith Jesus Himself calls blessed.

Application

Today, if you struggle with doubt, bring it honestly to Jesus. He is able to meet you and turn unbelief into confession.

Renew your mind with this truth: You do not need to see with physical eyes to believe. The risen Christ still speaks peace, still shows the evidence of His finished work through the Scriptures, and still calls us to move from unbelief to faith. Receive the blessing He pronounced over those who believe without seeing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus met Thomas in his doubt and led him to true confession. Thank You for the blessing spoken over all who believe without seeing. Strengthen our faith today. Where doubt has lingered, replace it with the clear confession: “My Lord and my God!” Help us walk in the blessedness of believing Your Word. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 24, 2026

“Peace Be with You”

Please Read John 20:19–23 (NKJV)

ReflectionThen, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The disciples were behind locked doors in fear. The risen Jesus came and stood among them. His first word was not rebuke — it was “Peace be with you.” Then He showed them His hands and His side, the wounds that secured that peace. Fear gave way to gladness.

He spoke peace a second time and joined it to mission: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was a real impartation from the risen Christ — a genuine giving of the Spirit for peace and for the work He was entrusting to them. The full outpouring for the church’s permanent indwelling and power would come at Pentecost, yet here Jesus already begins to give what He promised.

He also gave them authority to declare the finished work. As they went forth proclaiming forgiveness in His name, those who believed would receive it; those who refused would remain in their sins. The apostles (and the church after them) do not create forgiveness — they announce what Christ has already accomplished. People must still believe and receive by faith.

ApplicationToday, notice where fear has locked the doors of your heart. The risen Jesus still comes into closed places and speaks peace.

Renew your mind with this truth: His peace rests on His finished work. Receive the Holy Spirit afresh. Step into the sending He has given you. Declare what Christ has done, and trust the Spirit to work in hearts as people believe and receive.

PrayerHeavenly Father, thank You that Jesus came into the locked room and spoke peace. Thank You that He showed His wounds and breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. Speak Your peace over us again. Fill us with Your Spirit and send us as You sent Your Son. Help us declare the finished work of Christ with clarity and faith. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 21, 2026

“Mary!”

Please Read John 20:11–18 (NKJV)

ReflectionBut Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Mary came looking for a body. She left having met the risen Lord. The turning point was a single word spoken with personal knowledge and love: “Mary!” In that moment recognition flooded her heart. She reached out to hold on to Him, but Jesus gently redirected her. The old form of nearness was not returning. Something far greater had begun.

For the first time He calls the disciples “My brethren.” Then He makes the family declaration: “My Father and your Father.” The finished work has opened the way for us to become sons and daughters. Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren. Now, by His Spirit in us, we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Mary was not losing Jesus; she was being sent by Him into this new family reality. The first resurrection appearance became the first commission: “Go and tell My brethren.”

ApplicationToday, remember that the risen Jesus still calls His own by name. He meets us in our weeping and turns confusion into recognition.

Renew your mind with this truth: We no longer cling to a merely physical presence. Through the Holy Spirit, the risen Christ dwells with us and in us, and we have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” Receive His nearness by the Spirit, live as a beloved son or daughter, and go tell others what you have seen and heard. Personal encounter with Jesus always leads to commission.

PrayerHeavenly Father, thank You that Jesus appeared first to Mary and called her by name. Thank You that He now calls us His brethren and declares that Your Fatherhood is ours. We release any attempt to hold on to You in the old way and receive the greater gift of Your Spirit who dwells with us and in us. By that Spirit we cry, “Abba, Father.” Send us, as You sent Mary, to tell others that we have seen the Lord. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 20, 2026

“They Have Taken Away the Lord”

Please Read John 20:1–10 (NKJV)

Reflection

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary came while it was still dark. She saw the stone rolled away and immediately concluded the worst: “They have taken away the Lord.” Her love was real, but her understanding was still incomplete. Peter and the beloved disciple ran to the tomb. One arrived first and looked in; the other went all the way inside. They saw the linen cloths and the face cloth folded by itself — clear evidence that this was no ordinary removal of a body. The beloved disciple “saw and believed,” yet John is careful to note that they still did not fully understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead.

Faith had begun, but it was still mixed with confusion. The tomb was empty, the evidence was there, and belief had stirred — yet the full light of the resurrection had not yet dawned on their hearts.

Application

Today, recognize that early faith is often mixed with confusion. Like Mary, Peter, and John, we can love Jesus sincerely and still not fully grasp what He has done.

Renew your mind with this truth: The empty tomb is enough to begin believing, even before full understanding comes. Bring your incomplete faith to the risen Lord. Do not wait until every question is answered to trust Him. Let the evidence of the empty tomb steady your heart while the Holy Spirit continues to open the Scriptures to you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the empty tomb. Thank You that Jesus is not there — He is risen. Forgive us for the times our faith has been mixed with confusion or fear. Help us to see and believe, even when we do not yet fully understand. Open the Scriptures to our hearts so that we may know that He must rise from the dead. Strengthen our early faith until it becomes clear and steadfast. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 19, 2026

“They Took the Body of Jesus”

Please Read John 19:38–42 (NKJV)

Reflection

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

Joseph of Arimathea had been a secret disciple, afraid of the Jews. Nicodemus had first come to Jesus under the cover of night. Yet when Jesus was dead and the cost of association was highest, both men stepped forward. They no longer remained in the shadows. They asked for the body, provided the costly spices, and carefully prepared Him for burial according to Jewish custom. They placed Him in a new tomb in a garden — a tomb that had never been used.

John notes that this was the Preparation Day, and the coming Sabbath was a high day (John 19:31) — the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus was crucified on the day the Passover lambs were slain, before that high Sabbath began at evening. The public disciples had scattered. The secret disciples now came into the open. In the darkest hour, courage rose where fear had once ruled. Their act of devotion fulfilled the need for an honorable burial and prepared the stage for the empty tomb that would follow.

Application

Today, consider whether fear has kept you quiet or hidden in your devotion to Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus show that it is never too late to step out of secrecy into open faithfulness.

Renew your mind with this truth: The same Lord who received their costly and courageous service receives yours. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any place where fear has held you back. Choose today to step forward in loyalty to Jesus, even when it costs something. Faithfulness in the dark prepares the way for resurrection light.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who stepped forward when others had fled. Thank You that they honored the body of Jesus with courage and costly devotion. Forgive us for the times we have remained silent or hidden because of fear. Give us hearts that are willing to be identified with Jesus, even when it is costly. Help us to serve Him openly and faithfully. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 18, 2026

“Blood and Water”

Please Read John 19:31–37 (NKJV)

Reflection

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

The blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ side were not accidental. They fulfilled the Scriptures concerning the Passover Lamb whose bones were not broken, and the One who would be pierced. John, the beloved disciple, stands as an eyewitness so that we may believe.

From the beginning, Scripture has given us a picture of the Bride formed from the side of the man. Eve was taken from Adam’s side while he slept. Now, in the “sleep” of death, blood and water flow from the side of the last Adam. Many have seen in this the birth of the Church — the Bride secured by the finished work of the cross. The blood speaks of cleansing and the price of redemption; the water speaks of life and the Spirit. Together they testify that from His death comes our life.

Application

Today, receive the full testimony of the cross. The blood and the water still speak.

Renew your mind with this truth: You are cleansed by His blood and made alive by His Spirit. The same side that was pierced for you is the source of both forgiveness and new life. Do not separate what God has joined — the finished work that both cleanses and gives life. Live today as one who has been brought forth from His side.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus’ side was pierced and that blood and water flowed for us. Thank You that the Scriptures were fulfilled and that the testimony is true. We receive the cleansing of His blood and the life of His Spirit. Thank You that from His death the Bride is brought forth. Keep us faithful to the One who was pierced for us. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 17, 2026

“It Is Finished”

Please Read John 19:17–30 (NKJV)

Reflection

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The cry “It is finished” is the Greek word tetelestai — it is completed, it has been brought to its intended end, it is paid in full. The work of redemption was not left incomplete. Every requirement was met. Every Scripture that had to be fulfilled was fulfilled. The debt was paid.

Some have also observed a beautiful Hebrew word association in which the root that speaks of completion is related to the word for bride. In that light, the finished work of the cross is also the securing of the bride. The death of Christ brought the reality of the Bride into fulfillment.

Even in His final hours, Jesus cared for His mother, fulfilled Scripture, and completed the work the Father had given Him to do. The King who was lifted up on the cross finished what He came to accomplish.

Application

Today, rest in the finished work of Jesus. Nothing remains for you to add to what He has already completed.

Renew your mind with this truth: The cry “It is finished” means the work of salvation is complete. You do not strive to finish what Christ has already finished. Receive it by faith. Live from the place of a finished work — forgiven, cleansed, and secured as part of His Bride.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus finished the work of redemption on the cross. Thank You that tetelestai still stands — it is completed, paid in full. We rest in what He has done. Help us to stop striving to finish what He has already finished and to live from the security of His completed work. Thank You that His death also secured the Bride. Keep us faithful to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

There was a man who dreamed of building something that would outlast him. He started a small business with little more than vision, hard work, and prayer. Over the years the business grew.

His oldest son already had a business of his own. When the father needed capital to expand, the oldest son invested a significant portion of his own resources into his father’s company. He did not work in the day-to-day operations, but he believed in what his father was building and put his money where his faith was.

The middle son came and worked beside his father every day. He learned the trade, carried the burdens, stayed late when needed, and treated the business as if it were already his own. He never demanded ownership; he simply gave himself to the work. Through his faithfulness the company became strong and well-ordered.

The youngest son showed little interest. He was still young enough that the success of the business benefited him without requiring anything of him. He enjoyed the provision, the name, and the security, but he never stepped into the labor or the vision. The father loved him no less, yet the boy remained on the outside of the work.

In time the company flourished beyond anything the father had imagined. It became a great success—respected, profitable, and established. When the father grew old and knew his days were ending, he divided the ownership of the company among his three sons according to his will. Each received shares.

Not long after the father’s death, the youngest son grew restless. The shares felt like a weight rather than an inheritance. He approached his brothers and sold them his portion. With the money in hand he left and spent it freely—on pleasures, distractions, and things that could not last. Before long the money was gone, and he found himself empty-handed, standing outside the very company that had once provided for him.

Broken and ashamed, the youngest son returned to his brothers and asked for help. He had never worked in his father’s company, nor in his eldest brother’s business. He possessed no skill, no knowledge of the trade, and no understanding of how anything was done. He came with nothing but need.

His brothers did not turn him away. Instead they offered him a position at the lowest level—simple work, the kind given to one who must start from the beginning. They told him he could learn the business if he was willing. The youngest son accepted. He gave himself fully to the work. He showed up early, stayed late, asked questions, and applied himself with all his strength. Over time he was promoted. Responsibility increased. Understanding grew. Character was formed.

In the end, through faithful labor and the grace extended by his brothers, he redeemed the shares he had once sold. What he had traded away in foolishness, he received back through humility, diligence, and the mercy of those who had remained faithful. He was no longer an outsider living off the success of others. He had become a true partner in the work his father had begun.

From Faith to Faith

Romans 1:17 declares, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

The parable shows this progression. Faith begins when a person first believes and steps into the Father’s work. But the righteousness of God is not fully revealed in the starting step alone. It is revealed as that faith continues—day after day, year after year—in the Word and in obedience. Continued faithfulness produces the rewards of faithfulness. As those rewards are reaped, God is glorified, and His righteousness becomes visible to others.

This is the path the middle son walked from the beginning. It is also the path the youngest son eventually learned. He did not leap from failure straight into full ownership. He began again at the lowest place, remained in the process, and by continuing in faithfulness he reaped increasing fruit. The more he stayed in the work, the more the Father’s ways were formed in him, and the more the righteousness of God was put on display.

Three Paths in the Kingdom

The oldest son represents those who faithfully invest in the Kingdom of God but are not called into full-time ministry. They keep their vocation, steward their resources, and sow into the work of the Lord. Their investment is real, necessary, and honored by the Father. The Kingdom advances because of them.

The middle son represents those who feel the call into ministry. They leave other pursuits and give themselves fully to the work of the Gospel. They labor in the Word, in prayer, and among the people. Their path is vital, yet it is not the only path of faithfulness.

The youngest son shows us that the starting place does not determine the ending place. Whether he ultimately served in his older brother’s business or stepped into ministry is not the main issue—both paths are good when walked in faith. What matters is that he returned, submitted to the process, and continued in faithfulness until the inheritance was restored.

In the Body of Christ there are far more people like the oldest son and the youngest son than there are like the middle son who enters full-time ministry. This is by the Father’s design. Some are called to ministry while continuing their non-ministry vocation, raising their own support so they can give themselves to the work without being a burden. All of these paths, when walked in continued faith, reveal the righteousness of God.

My wife and I have walked this same principle in our marriage. For thirty-six years we have remained faithful to each other according to God’s principles. We did not arrive at deeper love overnight. As we continued in the Word and in covenant faithfulness, the rewards of that faithfulness began to appear. Year after year God’s righteousness has been revealed more clearly in our relationship. We love each other more now than ever before—not because of human strength, but because the righteousness of God is manifested from faith to faith.

The same principle holds for every area of Kingdom life. Stay in the Word. Remain faithful in the place God has given you—whether that place is full-time ministry, marketplace investment, or a restored beginning after failure. As you continue, you will reap the rewards of faithfulness. And as those rewards appear, God will be glorified and His righteousness will be made visible to those who watch your life.

Seeking Jesus First - August 14, 2026

“Behold the Man!”

Please Read John 19:1–16 (NKJV)

Reflection

Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. They said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck Him with their hands.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate answered, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid. He entered the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.”

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.” When Pilate heard that, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified.

Pilate, the Roman governor appointed by Caesar, publicly presented Jesus with two titles: “Behold the Man!” and “Behold your King!” Those words carried official weight. Whether spoken in irony, political calculation, or growing unease, they still stand true. The One standing there is both true Man and true King. Pilate’s fear increased when he heard that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. In a culture that could regard emperors and extraordinary figures as divine, Jesus’ earlier words about His kingdom and bearing witness to the truth had already unsettled him. Yet in the end, political pressure and the cry of the crowd won. Pilate compromised and handed Jesus over.

Application

Today, consider how easily the fear of man and the pressure of the crowd can override the truth we already know. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, yet he still delivered Him up.

Renew your mind with this truth: Jesus is both the Man who suffered for us and the King who reigns. Do not let the voices of this world cause you to release what you know is true. Stand with the One whom even a Roman governor was compelled to present as both Man and King.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus stood before Pilate as both true Man and true King. Thank You that no power could touch Him except what was given from above. Forgive us for the times we have compromised under pressure or feared the opinions of others more than Your truth. Strengthen us to behold Jesus rightly — the Man who suffered and the King who reigns — and to stand with Him without compromise. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 13, 2026

“My Kingdom Is Not of This World”

Please Read John 18:28–40 (NKJV)

Reflection

They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early morning, and the Jewish leaders themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and asked, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

When Pilate entered the Praetorium again and called Jesus, he said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Pilate’s response was, “What is truth?” Then he went out again and told the people he found no fault in Jesus. Yet when given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a robber, they cried out for Barabbas.

Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world — it does not originate from the world’s systems, nor does it advance by the world’s methods of force and political power. Yet this does not mean He has no kingdom or no authority. After the resurrection He declared, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Scripture also calls Him “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). Even earthly kings receive their dominion from God (Daniel 2:37). Jesus came to be King, and the Father has established Him as King over all.

The world system, however, still prefers Barabbas — the one who takes by force — over the King who bears witness to the truth.

Application

Today, examine where your loyalty rests. Are you drawn to the methods and values of this world’s system, or are you living under the authority of the King whose kingdom is not of this world?

Renew your mind with this truth: Jesus is King. His kingdom does not operate by the world’s power, yet all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Choose today to hear His voice, to stand with the truth, and to refuse the cry for Barabbas in your own heart and decisions.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is the true King. Thank You that His kingdom is not of this world, yet all authority has been given to Him. Forgive us for the times we have preferred the ways of this world over the ways of His kingdom. Align our hearts with the truth He came to bear witness to. Help us to hear His voice and to live under His kingship today. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 12, 2026

“The Trial Before Annas & Caiaphas”

Please Read John 18:12–27 (NKJV)

Reflection

The detachment of troops, the captain, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus, bound Him, and led Him away first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised that it was expedient for one man to die for the people.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard. Peter stood outside until he was brought in. As he warmed himself by the fire, a servant girl said, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” Peter answered, “I am not.”

Inside, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them.” When an officer struck Him for answering this way, Jesus replied, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

Meanwhile, Peter denied Jesus a second time, and then a third. Immediately a rooster crowed.

The contrast is sharp. Jesus stands bound yet steady, speaking truth without fear. Peter stands free yet captive to fear, denying the One he had sworn to follow. Jesus bears witness to the truth under unjust questioning. Peter hides from association with Him beside a fire of strangers.

Application

Today, consider where fear may be silencing your witness. Is there a place where you are tempted to distance yourself from Jesus rather than stand with Him?

Renew your mind with this truth: Jesus remained faithful under pressure so that we might be kept even when we fail. When you have denied Him in word or in silence, return to Him quickly. He already knew Peter’s failure and still restored him. Let His steady faithfulness strengthen you to speak truth and stand with Him today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus stood firm under false accusation and unjust treatment. Forgive us for the times we have denied Him through fear or silence. Strengthen us by His example and by His Spirit. Keep us from the fear of man. Help us to bear steady witness to the truth, knowing that He who remained faithful will also keep us. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 11, 2026

“Shall I Not Drink the Cup?”

Please Read John 18:10–11 (NKJV)

Reflection

When those who came to arrest Jesus laid hands on Him, Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

In a moment of danger, Peter responded the way many of us do — with human strength, impulse, and self-protection. He tried to defend Jesus by force. But Jesus immediately stopped him. The issue was not merely the violence of the act; it was the misunderstanding of the hour. Jesus had not come to be rescued by the sword. He had come to receive the cup the Father had given Him.

That cup was the suffering, the cross, and the full weight of the work of redemption. Jesus did not resist it. He did not negotiate it. He willingly accepted it. His question to Peter reveals a settled heart: the Father’s will is not something to fight against — it is something to drink.

Peter’s sword could only wound. Jesus’ submission would save. One acted from fear and loyalty mixed with misunderstanding; the other acted from perfect obedience and love.

Application

Today, consider the “cup” the Father has placed before you. Is there a difficult obedience, a season of waiting, a cost of following Jesus that you are tempted to resist or fight in your own strength?

Renew your mind with this truth: The same Jesus who received the cup of suffering for our sake now walks with you in whatever the Father has given. Put away the sword of self-effort and impulsive reaction. Choose instead to trust and receive what the Father has appointed, knowing that His purposes are good and that Jesus has already gone before you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus willingly received the cup You gave Him. Forgive us for the times we have reached for our own strength instead of trusting Your will. Teach us to put away the sword of self-protection and self-effort. Give us hearts that say with Jesus, “Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” We trust You today. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 10, 2026

“I Am He”

Please Read John 18:4–9 (NKJV)

Reflection

Jesus, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to those who had come to arrest Him, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.”

And when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

The same Name Jesus had manifested throughout His ministry was now spoken in the hour of darkness. In the garden, surrounded by soldiers, lanterns, and weapons, the simple declaration “I am” carried such weight that those who came to seize Him fell backward. The power of the Name was not diminished by the night or by the betrayal. It remained the Name above every name.

Jesus had already told the Father, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me.” Now, in the moment of His arrest, that Name is spoken aloud — and even His enemies cannot stand before it. Yet Jesus does not use the power of the Name to escape. He uses it to identify Himself clearly and to protect those who belong to Him: “If you seek Me, let these go their way.”

The One who is the great I AM willingly steps into the hands of men, still fully in control, still keeping those the Father has given Him.

Application

Today, remember that the Name of Jesus still carries authority — in the light and in the dark. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Renew your mind with this truth: The same “I AM” who caused soldiers to fall backward is the One who keeps you. You do not face any hour alone. Call upon His Name with confidence, and rest in the protection of the One who has already manifested the Father’s Name and still holds all authority.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus declared “I am He” in the hour of darkness and that the power of His Name caused those who came against Him to fall back. Thank You that He used that moment to protect His disciples. We stand in the authority of that same Name today. Keep us in Your Name. Let us walk in the confidence that the great I AM is with us and for us. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 7, 2026

“The Hour Has Come”

Please Read John 18:1–11 (NKJV)

Reflection

After praying for His disciples and for all who would believe, Jesus went with them across the Brook Kidron into a garden. Judas knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then came with a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” When He said this, they drew back and fell to the ground. He asked them again, and when they confirmed they sought Him, Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.”

Even in the moment of betrayal and arrest, Jesus was fully in control. He protected His disciples, fulfilling the word He had spoken earlier that He would lose none of those the Father had given Him. When Peter drew a sword and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear, Jesus immediately intervened: “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Luke’s Gospel adds a further detail of that protection and mercy: Jesus touched the servant’s ear and healed him (Luke 22:51). Even while being arrested, Jesus restrained the violence of His own disciple and healed the wound of His enemy. The hour had come, yet He remained the One who protects, who heals, and who willingly receives the cup the Father has given Him.

Application

Today, remember that Jesus is never a victim of circumstances. Even in the darkest hour, He remains in control and continues to care for His own.

Renew your mind with this truth: The same Jesus who protected His disciples in the garden is the One who keeps you now. Trust Him with the cup the Father has given you. Choose to walk in His peace rather than in impulsive reaction, knowing that He is both willing and able to keep those who are His.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus faced the hour of His arrest in full control and perfect love. Thank You that He protected His disciples and even healed the one who was struck. Help us to trust Him in our own difficult hours. Keep us from fearful or impulsive reactions, and teach us to receive the cup You give with the same willingness Jesus showed. We rest in His care and protection today. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.

Seeking Jesus First - August 5, 2026

“That They May Behold My Glory”

Please Read John 17:24–26 (NKJV)

Reflection

Jesus brought His High Priestly Prayer to a close with these words:

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus’ desire is that those the Father has given Him would be with Him where He is and behold His glory. The Greek word here is theōreō — it means more than a quick glance. It speaks of gazing attentively, observing carefully, and contemplating with understanding. Jesus wants us to look upon His glory in a sustained, knowing way.

To behold His glory is not only to gaze upon Him — it is to live under the reality that His eyes are upon us and His love rests on us.

This is not only a future hope of heaven. Spiritually, it is already fulfilled. Paul later writes that God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). In Christ, we are already positioned with Him. From that place we are invited to behold His glory with understanding.

Jesus also says, “I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it.” To declare the Father’s name is to make His character, authority, and nature known. This revelation carries spiritual authority. The same Name Jesus manifested and declared has been given to His disciples and to all who follow Him.

The final purpose of the prayer is love: “that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” The very love the Father has for the Son is placed in us, and Christ Himself lives in us. This is the deep end of the prayer — shared position, attentive beholding of His glory, shared Name, and shared love.

Application

Today, receive the finished prayer of Jesus. You are already seated with Him in heavenly places. The Name of the Father has been declared to you, and the love with which the Father loves the Son is available to dwell in you.

Renew your mind with this truth: You are with Christ where He is. From that place, behold His glory with understanding. Live under the reality that His eyes are upon you and His love rests on you. Carry the Name that has been declared to you. Let the love of the Father fill you and flow through you today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus prayed for us to be with Him where He is and to behold His glory. Thank You that this is already true in the Spirit — we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Teach us to gaze upon His glory with understanding and to live under the reality that Your eyes are upon us and Your love rests on us. Thank You that He has declared Your name to us and that the love with which You love Him may be in us. Renew our minds today to live from this place of union, authority, and love. Let Your Name be honored through us, and let Your love fill us. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.