S –  The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: 

“Hosanna! 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord^,—the King of Israel!” 

John 12:12–13 CSB

O –  Commentary:

A wild enthusiasm over Jesus broke out. Thousands of Galilean pilgrims had come to the Passover, and they had seen many of His mighty works. Previously He had rejected the role of a political Messiah (6:15) but, they thought, perhaps now was the right moment. Jerusalem was the city of the great King and He was coming to it. Waving their palm branches, symbols of victory, the people were shouting Hosanna! “Hosanna” in Hebrew means “Please save” or “Save now” (cf. Ps. 118:25). It came to be a shout of praise. Quoting Psalm 118:26, they ascribed messianic titles to Him: He who comes (lit., “the Coming One”; cf. John 11:27) and the King of Israel.

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A –  There is a verse in a worship song that asks “What would you do, if He walked into the room?”  The people of Israel are willing Jesus to be a political King of Israel to deliver them of Rome’s oppression.  They missed his purpose as their king.  What is his purpose as my Savior and Lord today?  Am I inviting him into my life today?  Am I ascribing true honor and love to him?  He is the one, true God.  He deserves the best today.

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are my Savior and King.  You are God and there is no other.  I invite all of you into my day.  I want to walk in a relationship with you and honor you in my thoughts, words and actions.  All glory, honor and praise to you.

S – You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” ⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God

John 11:50–52 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

John by God’s Spirit recognized a deep irony in Caiaphas’ words. As the high priest, Caiaphas pointed to the last sacrificial Lamb in a prophecy he did not even know he made. Caiaphas meant Jesus had to be killed, but God intended the priest’s words as a reference to His substitutionary atonement. Jesus’ death would abolish the old system in God’s eyes by fulfilling all its types and shadows. His death was not only for Jews but also for the world, thus making a new body from both.

  “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – God has a plan that exceeds our understanding.  Caiaphas thinks he is saving Israel in Rome’s eyes and he would preserve his control.  God used it to usher in a personal relationship with Him and allow the Gentiles to be part of the body.  We can also trust that God works for our good in all things.

R – Heaven Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  We know that you are working for our good in all things.  Help us to align with your will and purposes even when we don’t see it.  We know that it will help us grow closer to you.

S – A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother

Proverbs 15:20 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Obedient and wise conduct brings joy (śāmaḥ) to the parents, but folly does not. In fact only a fool despises his mother. Here rather than stating that folly in a son grieves his mother (as in 10:1) that reaction on her part is implied and the fool’s attitude toward her is stated.

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

Joy – sâmach,  to brighten up, — cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, × very

Despises – bâzâh,  to disesteem:— despise, disdain, contemn (-ptible), + think to scorn, vile person

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – Wisdom is worthy of its pursuit.  It captures your gifts, talents, and experiences and applies them to your life.  It is easy to see how a person’s wisdom would “brighten up” those who raised them.  A person’s stupidity and silliness into adulthood demonstrates the disdain for those who raised him. 

R – Heavenly Father, we honor Your name above all names.  Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us grow in the Spirit of Wisdom that you give us.  In doing so, we will achieve new growth and honor those who have poured into our lives.  Keep us from our earthly desires to do foolish things today.  Help us to honor you at all times.

S – I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd

John 10:14–16 CSB

O – Commentary:

The other sheep … not of this flock refers to Gentiles who would believe. His coming death would bring them also to the Father. They too will listen to My voice. Jesus continues to save people as they hear His voice in the Scriptures. Acts 18:9–11 illustrates how this works out in the history of the church. “I have many people in this city” (i.e., Corinth), the Lord told Paul. One flock and one Shepherd speaks of the church with believers from Jewish and Gentile “sheep pens” in one body with Christ as Head

  “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The idea of Jews and Gentiles is not “revolutionary” today.  With thousands of years since Jesus’ resurrection, it has become normal.  Back then, it was tremendously challenging.  Today, people are still separated by denominations, race and other cultural beliefs.  We need to love and value each other.  We have one shepherd – Jesus.

R – Heavenly Father, we come in awe and respect for who You are.  We honor you above all things.  Please help us to love each other even when we are different.  Jesus is our “shepherd.”  We can come in unity because of his cross and resurrection. 

S – Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

John 9:40–41 CSB

O – Commentary:

Jesus answered that those who claim to hold all religious truth will discover that they are blind, while those who recognize their spiritual poverty will find true sight. In the story, the blind man and his family frequently confessed that they did not know, while the Pharisees repeatedly stated their confidence and remained guilty because of their religious pride. If they had confessed their ignorance and admitted their spiritual blindness, they would be guiltless. Instead, their conscious and willful rejection of Jesus established their guilt

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Any pride in our life is bad.  Religious pride is “knowing” God’s Word or truths and remaining in the guilt of the sin.  The things we don’t know are not hurting us as much as the things we do know.  We need humility in our lives to live out all that God has revealed to us.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship to you today.  There is still so much that we ask that you reveal to us.  Yet, what we do know, we are accountable for today.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and walk it out in alignment with Your Word.

S – The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?” 

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 

So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden^, and went out of the temple

John 8:57–59 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Jesus then affirmed His superiority over the prophets and Abraham. Abraham came into being; but when he was born, Jesus was already existing. I Am is a title of Deity (cf. Ex. 3:14; Isa. 41:4; 43:11–13; John 8:28); the Jews’ response (v. 59) showed they understood it that way. Jesus, because of His equality with God (5:18; 20:28; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9), existed from all eternity (John 1:1).

 Jesus’ clear affirmation of His deity evoked a crisis. They had to decide whether He was what He claimed or was a blasphemer.

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus confronts his accusers “straight up” affirming who He is.  This is where so many of us are today.  There are those who don’t want to call Jesus their Lord or Savior and won’t accept Him.  There are believers who accept Jesus as Lord but don’t want to yield certain areas of their lives.  The answer is total surrender.

R – Heavenly Father, we totally surrender all to you today.  You are who you say that you are – You are God and through Jesus, desire an intimate relationship today.  We give all areas to you to forgive sin and surrender the areas we want to keep.  You are worthy of all praise and honor. 

S – Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. ³⁹ David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off

 1 Samuel 17:38–39 CSB

O – Saul didn’t want to fight the giant even though he was the one most suited to fight him.  In sending out David, he insisted that the young man wear his armor.  David was wise enough to realize he couldn’t fight in someone else’s armor.  It didn’t fit, it didn’t work, it wasn’t him.

A – Even with the purest intentions from others, we need to know our gifts, talents and resources.  In comparison or emulating someone else, we surrender what God has endowed us with for our daily walk.  We need to know who we are, what gifts we possess and the calling on our life.  With those, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us into victory each day.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you today.  You know every battle and challenge coming our way today.  You have given us so much to stand strong and defeat the enemy.  Help us walk in our calling and the confidence that comes from knowing you personally.  

S –  “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 CSB

O – When Samuel anointed Saul as king of Israel, it was noted that he was taller than everyone else and good-looking. It is understandable he would look for similar qualities in the next king.  God taught Samuel the importance of seeing as God sees.  In this case, a person’s heart is more important.

A – It is easy to confuse the outside with a person’s abilities and depth of character.  We are all visual.  We need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit to discern what is going on in the spiritual realm. Discernment will save us from bad decisions and judgments about others.

R – Heavenly Father, we recognize our weakness and surrender to you today.  Give us the ability to discern and bring context to conversations and situations today.  We invite your Holy Spirit to help us see things through your lens.  

S – The house of the righteous has great wealth, but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked. 

Proverbs 15:6 CSB

O – “wealth” – chôçen; wealth:— riches, strength, treasure

“Trouble” – âkar,  to roil water; fig. to disturb or afflict:— trouble, stir.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

The wealth of worldly men increases their fears and suspicions, adds strength to their passions, and renders the fear of death more distressing. 

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

A – This verse doesn’t make a judgment on wealth.  Instead, it characterizes what is associated with a person’s income.  Righteousness yields a depth of strength and peace while wickedness is similar to boiling water that constantly strives, agitates and collides within itself.  Righteousness eliminates more drama in your life.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for the ability to make an income.  You bless us in so many ways.  We choose to submit to you today.  We invite your peace and wisdom to guard our minds and hearts from turmoil and fear in our finances.

S – So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples can see your works that you are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ (For not even his brothers believed in him.) 

 John 7:3–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

It did not seem rational to Jesus’ brothers for Him not to show off His glory. If He really was what He claimed to be, they reasoned, He should publicly demonstrate it. They advised Him to display Himself in a powerful, brilliant way: Show Yourself to the world. But God’s way was a public display on a cross of humiliation. John explained that even His own brothers did not believe in Him. This sad note sounds again (cf. 1:10–11; 12:37). Proximity to Jesus, either in a family or as a disciple, does not guarantee faith.

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Our walk with God is counter-intuitive to our logic sometimes.  It makes sense that if you want to save the world, you would “show yourself” in Jerusalem’s largest environment.  Instead, God’s plan was the cross.  Now, we see the brilliance of God’s strategy.  Do we trust and have faith when God’s plan doesn’t make sense?  We can know fully that God’s ways are best and for our good.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you today.  Thank you for your plans and desires for us in our relationship with you.  We ask that the Holy Spirit continue to give us understanding as your plans unfold each day.  Let that develop into a deeper love and faith in you.