Banquet With The King

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Traveling to Jerusalem

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. Matthew 19:1

Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them. Mark 10:1

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

Meditate on traveling.

Model of the Temple and the City of Jerusalem
at Jesus' time.
As seen in modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.

Jesus’ Galilean ministry came to an end, as He headed to Jerusalem. He knew what lay ahead of Him in that city. Death on a cross. But He had a ways to go before He would arrive in Jerusalem, and there were so many people still to touch, to heal, and even one to raise from the dead. Would you have wanted to be one traveling with Jesus, or to be one whom He healed? It must have been wonderfully exciting to be there with the Savior, the Messiah, the traveling Rabbi. The roads were dusty, and the food may have been scarce. There weren’t always lakes or seas, rivers, or even ponds for these fishermen to fish for their dinner, yet they must have eaten. Jesus knew the formula for manna, and if He could feed 5,000, He could certainly feed twelve to twenty. His followers kept their eyes on Jesus and witnessed Him teaching, healing, and helping. Just to be in the presence of The Master, I would be filled with peace and joy. To talk, laugh, and maybe even sing with Him would be wonderful. That day will come. For now, travel with Him as He journeys to Jerusalem.

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were ultimately obedient to our Heavenly Father. I imagine that He told You…It is time to go. And You headed for the big city…stopping along the way for more teaching and healing opportunities. Last days bonuses for those around You. Thank You for Your example of obedience. May we all seek to be like You.

Verse of Salvation ~ (Isaiah’s prayer for Jerusalem.) Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. Isaiah 62:1

Leave a comment below. What would it be like to travel with Jesus?

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Is He Out of His Mind?

Don't eat strange mushrooms.
You may discover that you are out of your mind.
Jesus was not eating strange mushrooms--
just healing a man born blind.

When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. Some said, "He's demon-possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?" Others said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" John 10:19-21

Meditate on divided opinions.

You hear it every day. People on one side or the other about something…from school issues to what the President has most recently said. Divided opinions. That is just what they are spouting. Opinions! Not facts.

Here in this scripture, people were taking sides and voicing their opinions. Jesus had just restored the eyesight for a man born blind. That was a fact. Was Jesus demon-possessed, or was He from God? Some could see that Jesus’ power was not demonic. What is your opinion about what Jesus did? Is He out of His mind? Are those who just don’t see the truth and power “Out of their minds?”

What do you conclude about Jesus, His power, and His relationship with those voicing their opinions about Him?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were amazingly merciful as You restored the eyesight of that man who had been born blind. I believe that You are the Messiah—the Savior of the World…my Savior. Thank You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Voluntary Sacrifice

Sheep grazing in Israel.
Are they listening for their shepherd's voice?
Are you?

"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." John 10:14-18

Meditate on sacrifice. To what voice, advice, or stories are you listening?

Have you ever been around sheep and noticed that they follow their shepherd when he calls to them? Listen for Jesus’ voice. Jesus is our shepherd and He tells us in this passage today that He sacrificed His own life for His sheep. That’s us. Sacrificed. Gave up His very human life. Would we do that for anyone? Jesus gave us lots of advice. Consider His teaching to his disciples when they asked about the end of the age.

Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Matthew 24:4-8

Wars and rumors of wars. Although wars have been almost constant throughout history, we have conflicts occurring now in and around Israel that people are attributing to end times. Have you Googled information on earthquakes lately? There have even been a series of small quakes within 60 miles of my home that appear to be related to fault lines that go all the way other fault lines in the Pacific Ocean. Does all this point to the End Times about which Jesus was warning? He told His disciples not to be misled. He also told them to be prepared. How are you preparing yourself and your family for such a time as this?

Remember how Mordecai challenged his cousin Queen Esther, wife of Persian King Ahasuerus, to prepare herself to save the Jewish people from eradication.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: "Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" Esther 4:13-14

So—has God prepared you where you are to encourage others at such a time as this? Will you keep silent or speak up for the Lord? The choice is yours to respond to Jesus’ message to be prepared and not to be deceived.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Lord, I’m listening for Your voice. Help me to hear it clearly amongst all the noise today. Don’t let me be swayed by those who claim that they are telling Your story—but they are trying to glorify themselves, not You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Monday, September 14, 2026

It’s All About the Money

Do you see the wolf?
I watched it and it watched me.
Jesus kept me safe!
Goose Paririe, WA

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. John 10:11-13

Meditate. Consider more of Jesus’ teachings.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows His sheep—those who believe in Him and follow Him—and they know Him. He is not a hired hand. Jesus is the Son of God—the true owner of the sheep. Of course, we know that those “sheep” have been adopted into God’s very family. (See Romans 8:15, 23.) That is a promise I cling to and for which I have an everlasting hope. Additionally, Jesus has promised that He will never abandon us.

For the LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. Psalm 37:28

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5 (quote from Deuteronomy 31:6, 8)

It’s all about the money for the hired hand—but not for Jesus…or for us. What a promise! I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. Jesus is our good shepherd. He cares about His sheep.

Does this scripture inspire you to trust in Jesus more?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for not abandoning us when things get rough and wolves come chasing us. There on the cross, You may have felt that God the Father had forsaken You, but He only turned His back on sin, not on You. Likewise, You have forgiven us for all our sins…and now have promised that You will never abandon us. Thank You for keeping those wolves away and fighting for us.

Verse of Salvation ~ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Sunday, September 13, 2026

Who is a Gatekeeper?

All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:8-10

Meditate. Consider what it is like to take care of sheep.

People lived closer to the land during Jesus’ time. Those with whom He was speaking possibly knew agricultural ways, including watching over sheep. The shepherd stood watch during the day—to protect his sheep from wild animals. Remember how almost a thousand years earlier, David wanted to fight Goliath and he told Saul about fighting off lions and bears.

But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" Saul finally consented. "All right, go ahead," he said. "And may the LORD be with you!" 1 Samuel 17:34-37

In the evening, the shepherd would corral his sheep in a makeshift enclosure and lay down across the opening, as a gate. He was the gatekeeper so that none of his sheep escaped, nor could anything get by him to attack them. He kept the sheep safe, giving them good pasture by day and protected sleep at night. Jesus was promising to do the same for those who follow Him. He would provide a rich and satisfying life. Are you willing to listen to Jesus and follow Him?

Does knowing Jesus through this scripture passage provide you with hope, security, or love? Does it bring you into a relationship with Him…or deepen the one you have?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I trust You. As the shepherd and gatekeeper of my life, I know that You provide all that I need and security. The enemy will not destroy me or take away my relationship with You. I praise You for all You have done…especially going to the cross in sacrificial obedience for my sin. You are worthy of glory, honor, and praise.

Verse of Salvation ~ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Saturday, September 12, 2026

The Good Shepherd

"I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice." Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep." "I am the good shepherd. …." John 10:1-7, 11

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ words and listen to what He is saying.

Sheep grazing in green pastures in Israel.

Jesus proclaimed the truth of who He is. He is the one who takes care of the sheep—His sheep. His flock. Those who believe in Him as Savior. Recall the words that are famously written in Psalm 23.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6

The shepherd in this Psalm is the LORD. The Lord God Almighty. He provides everything that is needed. Note that is not everything that is wanted…but everything that is needed. He also provides security, comfort, strength, blessings, and an everlasting love that allows us to live in the Lord’s presence forever.

Jesus points out in the John 10 passage that the flock follow Him because they know His voice. That is how it is with sheep. They follow the shepherd because they know His voice and He calls them by name. That is an encouraging thought. Our names are important to us. When someone remembers our name, it is special—they are special, too. We are identified and feel loved. Jesus is known for His love. Even little children sing about Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. - John 10:9 NLT love. Yet, people listening to Jesus didn’t understand, so He said He would explain it to them. In the following verses, He gives a more in-depth description supporting His statement that He is the Good Shepherd. We’ll look at those verses more closely in the next couple of days.

In these scripture passages, what gives us more understanding of Jesus and His character?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are my Shepherd and I rely on You for security, comfort, strength, blessings, and an everlasting love that allows me to live in Your presence forever. That’s what I long for. To be in Your presence. I’m waiting patiently for that day. Come quickly, Jesus.

Verse of Salvation ~ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. John 10:9

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Friday, September 11, 2026

Remembering the Fallen Towers

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment…. Hebrews 9:27

Meditate on life and death.

New York City

Twenty-five years ago, airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City killing 2,977 people. Death was unexpected for them. Were they destined to die?

Die once. That’s it. No reincarnation. We live…we die, just as those people in the Twin Towers. Sure, there are Biblical examples of a couple people, like Enoch and Elijah, who God just took up into heaven. No death. There were also a few more people who died and were raised from the dead, like the son of the widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17), the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:40-56), Lazarus (John 11), and the son of a widow at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Otherwise, everyone died only once. No life, death. When we die…we will live again with or without Christ. The choice is ours—not to come back as another person, or some animal, but as to whether we live eternally in the presence of God or in a place without Him. Personally, I choose to want to live with God…with Christ as my Savior. The void of no God will certainly be hell—a horrible place, filled with evil. I do not want to go there. Heaven is a wonderful place. I want to go there. Jesus tells us to be prepared. Were some of the ones in the Towers prepared to meet their end of life? How about you? Are you prepared?

When His disciples asked about end times, Jesus told them…

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30

Will you be mourning or victoriously praising Jesus Christ when He returns?

What do we learn about Jesus in considering His life, death, and resurrection?

Prayer – Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! Psalm 148:13

Verses of Salvation ~ And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world--from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Matthew 24:30-31

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Today, at sunset, is the beginning of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, when Jews remember Creation. One of the traditional foods served for the New Year is crisp apples dipped in honey. It is symbolic of hope—our hope that is in that Rabbinic tradition of the apple representing the Divine Presence. For believers--that is Jesus. To me, apples and honey are reminiscent of the Charoseth served at Passover. I love that cinnamony flavor.

Charoseth

2 crisp apples (1 sweet such as Gala and 1 tart such as Granny Smith), peeled and roughly chopped

1 cup walnuts

1 cup raisins

½ cup fresh orange juice

¼ cup kosher red wine or grape juice

2 Tbsp honey

1 tsp finely grated lemon

1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

kosher salt

Heat the walnuts on medium heat in a small sauce pan, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop.

Meanwhile, combine the raisins and orange juice in a small saucepan; simmer over medium-low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool, then stir in the wine or juice, honey, lemon zest, cinnamon, and about ¼ teaspoon salt.

In a large bowl, combine the apples and walnuts with the raisin mixture and toss to combine. Cover and let sit for at least 4 hours. Serves 8 – makes about 4 cups.

Serve with matzah or challah bread during the Seder and enjoy.

Leave your comments below.

Portions reused from May 29, 2019 Banquet With The King blog.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Are You Guilty or Blind to the Truth?

(Continued story of a man born blind whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath in Jerusalem.) When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answered, "Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him." "You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!" "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, "Are you saying we're blind?" "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. John 9:35-41

Meditate. Consider guilt.

I once was blind...but now I see.

It was a miracle that this man born blind could now see—and that he said, "Yes, Lord, I believe!" The Pharisees spoke with those who knew the man and had witnessed Jesus giving sight to him, but the Pharisees refused to believe. They were blind to the truth. Did they really know the Psalms, like the one that David wrote concerning not seeing how wicked they were.

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. Psalm 36:1-3

The Pharisees are guilty in Jesus’ eyes because they aren’t willing to see the truth. Jesus is the healer—the Son of God, the Messiah.

What do we learn about Jesus from this story of this man born blind and the response of those involved?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were so compassionate to the man born blind by restoring his sight. His eyes could see—not only everything around him, but the truth. You are the Messiah. I praise You!

Verses of Salvation ~ Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

I Told You. Didn’t You Listen?

(Continued story of a man born blind whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath in Jerusalem.) So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, "God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner." "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" "But what did he do?" they asked. "How did he heal you?" "Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn't you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" Then they cursed him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we don't even know where this man comes from." "Why, that's very strange!" the man replied. "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from? We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it." "You were born a total sinner!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue. John 9:24-34

Meditate. Consider listening.

Give your attention to the Lord.
Listen

The former blind man acknowledged that he didn’t know if Jesus was a sinner, but that He restored his sight. He told the Pharisees that. Were they listening? Note that he goes on to additionally acknowledge a fact that the Pharisees cannot dispute. We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. God is always listening. Do we?

How often do you tell someone—your kids, spouse, coworkers, or associates some truth or fact, and then you wonder if they even heard you? Were they listening? The same goes for us. When someone speaks to us, are we listening? Are we giving them our full attention?

Listen is my word of the year. “Listen.” Like many other people at the beginning of the year, I chose a word that I felt I needed to work on. Yep! I needed…and still need to...LISTEN! The word “listen” is found 505 times in the New Living Translation of the Bible. Who’s listening? To whom are they listening? We already know that God is always listening to those who worship him and do His will. This man born blind states that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but we do know that He listens to sinners who repent.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalm 66:16-20

Listening is necessary for teaching. That is just what the Pharisees were then questioning this man. Are you trying to teach us? The Holy Spirit teaches us…to listen and obey…if we are willing to hear His voice. Are you listening?

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage today?

Prayer – Holy Spirit, we have ears to hear…help us to listen.

Verses of Salvation ~ The LORD has sent this message to every land: "Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.'" They will be called "The Holy People" and "The People Redeemed by the LORD." And Jerusalem will be known as "The Desirable Place" and "The City No Longer Forsaken." Isaiah 62:11-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.