Banquet With The King: August 2026

Monday, August 31, 2026

God Did Not Desert Jesus

Jesus Crucified
Holy Family Shrine, Ashland, Nebraska.

So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him." Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. John 8:28-30

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

Jesus told His disciples and others that He was the Son of God and that He would be crucified. Crucified. Such a brutal way to die, but it was the Roman means of lethal punishment at that time. It was predicted probably about a thousand years earlier. Jesus plainly told this group of people that He was the Son of God—making Him part of the great I AM and that He was the one to be lifted up on the cross. Crucified. But even then, He claimed that God the Father was with Him and had not deserted Him, because He always did what pleased the Father.

Did you read that last sentence in this passage?

… many who heard him say these things believed in him. They Believed! They were saved! Rejoice! What a great gift. And note that this passage tells us that many, not just a few, believed!

Have you put your trust in Jesus, the Son of God? Do you believe?

What do we learn about Jesus’ character from this Scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for not giving up on us, but like God the Father, You have not deserted us. When You were on the cross, You pleaded with God…“why have You forsaken me?” as recorded in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. I think that God didn’t desert or forsake You…but the horrific sin that You bore for all of us humans. Please don’t forsake us. Your obedience to God, going to the cross, is the highest honor You can give us. May You be glorified and honored in all that we think, say, and do.

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

God wants you and your children to be like His Son, Jesus.

This devotional book guides you through 366 days of focusing on the characteristics of Jesus.

How can you develop those in your life?

Read this along with your Bible and discover traits in yourself like those in Jesus.

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Can you find the lost coin?

Who does this coin belong to?

Who fished for a fish with a coin in its mouth?

Would the woman give her last coin to the Temple?

Read these stories with your kiddos. Who will find the lost coin?

Sunday, August 30, 2026

WHO ARE YOU?

Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." The people asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?" Jesus continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." "Who are you?" they demanded. Jesus replied, "The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful." But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father. John 8:21-27 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate and understand.

Pharaoh and his soldiers after...
Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea.
LEGO creation by Isaac H.

“Who are You?”…they still didn't understand. Do you wonder just who Jesus is? Do you still not understand? Do you recall that Moses asked God who he should say sent him to the Israelites in Egypt?

God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain." But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you." God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations. Exodus 3:12-15 (Underlined for emphasis.)

I AM. He existed before the world was created and will exist forever. I AM. The ultimate being. Surviving, living, remaining. Jesus is part of that “being” as the Son of God. When asked, Jesus told those Pharisees that He was from God. Interestingly, He alludes to wanting to put down the Pharisees more harshly, but He doesn’t because God the Father didn’t tell Him to.

I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't…

He also states that God the Father is completely truthful. That is reassuring and encouraging. Completely truthful. No lies. He is honest and honorable. We can count on God and what He says. Likewise, since Jesus was so obedient to the Father, we can rely on Jesus to be truthful, too. Remember He said, I AM who I claim to be. He was telling us the truth. He IS the Son of God!

What do you want to remember most from this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you that we can trust You and believe that You are who You said You are!

Verse of Salvation ~ And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32

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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, August 29, 2026

Are You Walking in Darkness or Light?

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." The Pharisees replied, "You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid." Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."

"Where is your father?" they asked. Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father."

Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come. John 8:12-20

Meditate. Consider darkness and light.

Lunar Eclipse August 27, 2026
Did you see it?
Awesome!

Jesus said…If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." What is it like to walk in the dark? If there is no light—not even from the moon- it can be scary. It might be creepy—like someone is following you, or you feel like you’ll bump into something, even if it is somewhere you walk all the time. Darkness could be a mental state, even on the brightest of days. Gloomy. Depressing. Lonely. But knowing Jesus and the hope that He provides day by day and for eternity, it is like walking with a light. Sunlight—even at night. A warming glow that encourages you and gives you confidence, courage, and faith. There is a potential for an even brighter tomorrow. Does that reassure, inspire, or persuade you to learn more about Jesus, the Son of God, the risen Savior?

Apparently, speaking with Jesus did not change the Pharisees’ minds or encourage them to believe in Jesus. They were left in the dark. They just couldn’t grasp the fact that Jesus came from God the Father and spent lots of time talking with Him, in prayer, so that He knew just what God wanted Him to do and say.

Are you spending time with God the Father in prayer, so that you know Him, and just what He wants you to do? Anytime spent with God is time well spent. I know that I need to spend more quality time with Him, not allowing myself to get distracted, but to be focused on the Light of the World. Jesus. I don’t want to stumble around in the dark, but I do want to let His light shine on me and through me to others. His light leads to a life worth living here and in eternity.

What do you learn about Jesus’ character from this Scripture passage today?

Prayer and Worship – Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth your word

Lord, and let there be light.

From a worship song by Graham Kendrick, “Lord, The Light of Your Love is Shining”

Jesus, let Your light shine brightly—blazing for all to see and know You.

Verse of Salvation ~ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8

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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, August 28, 2026

Who was the Greatest Storyteller? Feast: Peachy Time of the Year

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world." Matthew 13:34-35

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ words.

Jesus often used scripture from what we call the Old Testament…but that was the Bible of the Jews during His time on earth. This passage from Psalms was probably well known to the people of Galilee who were known to be Bible scholars. Jesus was sitting by the Sea of Galilee while He was speaking in parables (Matthew 13:1-2).

O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Psalm 78:1-7

Jesus promised…I will…to speak in parables, teaching hidden lessons from stories that all Jews knew. The disciples were even bewildered about the parables and asked Him to explain the stories to them. Hidden truths. Do we see those in our culture today? Are we looking for them? Can we still learn from Jesus’ parables? Of course. As we study the parables, we can gain insights not only into life at Jesus time, but truths about our world and life today. Start searching the parables in Matthew, Mark, and Luke for yourself. Jesus promised… I will teach you hidden lessons from our past. Are you willing to learn from these old stories? I am—and I am eager to dig into His Word to find new truths to apply to my life.

Here’s a list of Jesus’ parables. [From Jesuscentral.com]
Alert Servants - Mark 13:33-37
Barren fig tree (Repent or Perish) - Luke 13:6-9
Bread of Life - John 6:31-38
Children - Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35
Dishonest Manager - Luke 16:1-13
Divided Kingdom - Matthew 12:24-30; Mark 3:22-27 Luke 11:14-23
Evil Spirit - Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants - Matthew 24:45-51, Luke 12:35-48
Feast Invitations - Luke 14:12-14
Friend at Midnight - Luke 11:5-13
Good Samaritan - Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-31
Great Banquet - Luke 14:15-24, Matthew 22:1-10
Great Physician - Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32
Growing Seed - Mark 4:26-29
Hidden Treasure - Matthew 13:45-46
How to be a Guest - Luke 14:7-11
Jesus and Fasting - Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35
King's War - Luke 14:31-33
Lamp on a Stand - Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-23; Luke 8:16-18
Leaven - Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21
Lesson from a Fig Tree - Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-32; Luke 21:29-33
Lost sheep - Luke 15:4-7, Matthew 18:12-14
Mustard Seed and Yeast - Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
New and Old Treasures - Matthew 13:52
New Cloth - Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36
New Wine - Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-39
Net of Fish - Matthew 13:47-50
Official who Refused to Forgive - Matthew 18:21-35
One Coin - Luke 15:8-10
Renters of a Vineyard - Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18
Shepherd and His Flock - John 10:1-18
Workers in Vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16
Wedding Banquet - Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:16-24
Persistent Widow - Luke 18:1-8
Pharisee and Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14
Rich fool - Luke 12:16-21
Rich man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31
Salt and Light - Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34-35
Servant's Duty - Luke 17:7-10
Sheep and Goats - Matthew 25:31-46
Sign from God - Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-32, Mark 8:12
Two Debtors - Luke 7:41-43
The Farmer - Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:4-15
The Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32
Ten Servants - Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25:14-30
Two Sons - Matthew 21:28-32
Ten Talents - Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-27
Ten Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13
True Vine - John 15:1-17
Unprepared Builder - Luke 14:28-30
Weeds Among Wheat - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Wise and Foolish Builders - Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49
Wise Steward - Luke 12:42-48

These are 53 parables that you can look at and study by yourself or with others.

Prayer – Jesus, open our eyes, ears, and heart to understanding Your words. Guide us into clearly understanding and applying Your teachings to our lives.

Verse of Salvation ~ We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It is a peachy time of the year! Peaches are ripe and ready for harvest—but the fruit is fragile. Handle with care! I just had a wonderful breakfast of a pancake topped with fresh sliced peaches, yogurt, and a fresh blackberry jelly with no sugar added. Yum! What a great way to start the day.

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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, August 27, 2026

What Did He Write in the Dust?

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." John 8:1-11

Meditate. Consider those who would throw the first stone.

In Israel...there are lots of stones handy.
Who can throw the first stone?
The one who has never sinned.
Who would that be?

What did Jesus write in the dust? One of the biggest questions in all the stories about Jesus!

I think that everyone would agree that it takes two people to commit an act of adultery. Where was her accomplice? Don’t men get accused of adultery, too? The Pharisees dragged her into the Temple where Jesus was teaching a crowd of people. They were innocent bystanders—witnessing the accusations against this lady. Jesus calmly handled the situation. He wasn’t going to get tricked into the Pharisees’ game of who’s right and who’s wrong and should they follow Moses’ teachings? Stone her?!?

Jesus wisely wrote in the sand…or dust…and then said…"All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Never sinned! Who could claim that? Not even the self-righteous Pharisees could proclaim that. So, no one cast the first stone…or the last one…at the woman. No one condemned her. Jesus mercifully said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Would you cast a stone or walk away? No one is sinless, except Jesus—so none of us could ever follow the law of Moses and throw a rock at her. It was an awful custom. It is interesting to note that the crowd that Jesus was teaching didn’t get involved. They just observed while the Pharisees, her accusers, were the ones who walked away. It was a lesson in purity for them, as well as for the group of people gathered at the Temple. Do you think that anyone there took toIn heart the words that Jesus spoke? Go and sin no more.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. David pleaded these words with You, as recorded in Psalm 51. Like that woman, I hear Your voice calling… Go and sin no more. Holy Spirit, please help me moment by moment to live the way You want me to live…sinless.

Verse of Salvation ~ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11-14

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, August 26, 2026

Legalities

Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. "Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?" he asked. They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!" Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home. John 7:50-53

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in Scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Those Pharisees didn’t even want to listen to Nicodemus. They wanted the Temple guards to arrest Jesus, so they didn’t answer Nicodemus’ question, but changed the subject. "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!" Nicodemus was left standing there, bewildered and frustrated. He knew that it wasn’t right to convict a man before giving him a hearing. A hearing…is that what the Pharisees gave Jesus as He went before the Roman courts? Watch and see what happens.

The Old Testament scriptures, which are what the Pharisees had available to them, point out that an accused person deserves a hearing.

You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. Exodus 23:1-2

But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses. Deuteronomy 17:6

Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly. Leviticus 19:15

Pure white hollyhocks overlooking Jerusalem.
Israel

God set some fair rules for the Israelites by which to live. Those should be good for anyone today, too. Are they? Honesty, purity, and integrity are always the best policies. But those Pharisees didn’t listen to Nicodemus; they just went home.

Is there anything new that we can learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and unfailing love, which You have shown from long ages past. Psalm 25:4-6

Verse of Salvation ~ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

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, August 25, 2026

Rivers of Living Water

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, "Surely this man is the Prophet we've been expecting." Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born." So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "We have never heard anyone speak like this!" the guards responded. "Have you been led astray, too?" the Pharisees mocked. "Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God's curse is on them!" John 7:37-49

Meditate. Consider your thirst and living water.

Living water. Jesus had declared the gift of living water earlier to the woman at the well.

Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?" Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:10-14

Do you picture Jesus as “the Living Water?”

Fill these jugs with Living Water.
Water jugs from a historic museum in Israel.

This Festival, the Feast of Tabernacles, is eight days long. At the end of the Festival, Jesus announced to the crowd that He would provide living water to anyone thirsty. It was the custom to carry water daily from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple altar for the first seven days of the festival. On the eighth day, no water was carried—only empty jars were carried, assuming that the Messiah would miraculously one day fill those vessels with water. It was startling for the Jews there to hear Jesus make this pronouncement.

Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' He would provide water?

How could that be? That must have raised a lot of questions in their hearts and minds. Who was this Jesus?

For you (God) are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Psalm 36:9

Are you thirsty yet? Similar Scripture considering the water of life is found in Revelation:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22:17

Who is Jesus to you? Do you believe that He can provide you with living water?

What do you learn about Jesus that draws you closer to Him through this Scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, as You shepherd us, guide us to not only receive Your living water, but help us to share this message of eternal life with those, like the woman at the well, whose paths cross ours. There is indeed an invisible thread throughout our lives that binds us all together—that our paths will cross with those You want us to help. We thank You for the love, security, and guidance that You provide for us. We praise You.

Verses of Salvation ~ See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day, you will sing: Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Isaiah 12:2-4

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

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