Destination Church Spokane Podcast

Can there be any hope now for Peter? The man who promised to stay faithful to Jesus even if it meant prison time or death, has now refused to acknowledge that he even knows Jesus. Three times he has denied it! Jesus, rather than making Peter earn his love and or work of lifetime to try to earn his salvation, offers grace. He gives us hope for the future by telling Peter that when he has turned back to Jesus again, he will have an important role: "strengthen your brothers." In the same way, when we feel like we have fallen to far, failed one too many times, and could never deserve a place in God's family or purpose, He has a merciful and miraculous way of redeeming even the worst of our sinfulness. Like Peter, our most shameful mistakes can become a part of God's salvation story. In fact, our whole story is a testimony of Jesus' hand in our lives. Can there be any hope for Peter? Yes! Can there be any hope for us? Yes!

The Sanhedrin meet in the middle of the night, against their own rules, looking for reasons to have Jesus executed. Despite false testimonies against Him, Jesus remains silent. He finally speaks when His identity is questioned. "You are the Christ?" To which Jesus responds, "I am." This answer is enough to have Jesus put to death, as He can now be portrayed as a false prophet. Jesus' sense of calmness under pressure and His security in the statement, "I am," is our testimony too! Jesus isn't just the king, He is OUR king, and we are evidence of His kingdom today. 

Jesus is in the garden with a few of his disciples when Judas comes with an armed crowd to capture and arrest him. Peter attempts to come to Jesus' defense, and in the process takes off a man's ear! Meanwhile, Jesus displays the excellent wisdom and commanding presence of the king he truly is, while also demonstrating perfect obedience to his Father as he commands Peter and the others not to fight back. Not only does Jesus go with his attackers willingly, but he even takes time to heal the man's ear! Jesus continues to be a perfect example to us of what it looks like to submit to our father's will, and what it looks like to show compassion and love to our enemies... even in the midst of deep betrayal, and when everything seems to be at stake. Through relationship with Jesus, we too can discover genuine compassion for our enemies that flows from Him. 

As Jesus is knowingly being betrayed and preparing for what is to come, He takes some of His disciples away to pray with Him. They fall asleep... while Jesus spends time in prayer with His father. While understanding that He is about to take all of God's wrath upon himself, Jesus is under so much stress that He literally sweats blood. Jesus is a perfect example to us of what it looks like to have a relationship with our Father, to have full confidence and trust in Him, and how to completely submit to Him... even in extreme situations! We may not always have the strength to do what God asks us to do, but Jesus does! Through prayer we can begin to strengthen our relationship with Him and He will give us the strength to do what we are called to do. 

Why do Christians take "communion" together? Is there more to this than just a religious tradition? We can discover the origins in Mark 14 as Jesus celebrates the Passover feast with his disciples. We also dive into these  questions:  Was the Jewish Passover foreshadowing what Jesus was about to accomplish in Jerusalem? Is his sacrificial death really enough to cause God's righteous wrath toward sin to pass over us? Can we really find life and freedom through him as the ultimate Lamb of God? Yes, yes, and yes! To begin unveiling these truths, Jesus has carefully arranged to celebrate this feast privately with his closest disciples, making sure they won't be interrupted by his enemies. This meal together will be like no other, as Jesus reframes the sacred feast with his own upcoming sacrifice as the focal point. Through Jesus, God is establishing a new covenant.

There's something amazing about extravagant worship that pours itself out wholeheartedly on Jesus. Some may call it wasteful; others may call it over-the-top, but Jesus calls it beautiful. Mary's gift of worship polarizes the crowd around her, maybe even being a catalyst that pushes Judas over the edge:  no longer 'merely' a thief, he will now become  the notorious insider-betrayer who will turn Jesus over to those  plotting his death. More than Judas' betrayal, it's Mary's prophetic act of worship that Jesus wants each of us to remember!

Jesus continues to speak about the 'end times', warning us all to stay on guard. Yes, the return of Christ will happen, no doubt about it! However, no one - seriously, no one! - knows when this will be, not even Jesus.  Since only the Father knows this detail, Jesus tells us that our role is simply to stay awake and stay alert. So, how can we do this? We can stay spiritually awake by spending time with God, with His people, and by intentionally involving ourselves in the daily mission He has given each of us. 

Jesus doesn't warn His followers of extreme trouble to come to put fear into us, but because He loves us and wants us to be prepared. For the sake of "the elect" (God's chosen, hand-selected people from all over the world) God has actually put a limit on suffering. He also warns us to be on guard against pseudo-saviors and false "prophets." Make no mistake: anyone and anything that does not line up with the will of God will not stand for long, but Jesus' mission to gather His chosen people cannot be stopped. And we get to participate! 

As Jesus looks upon the great buildings of the Temple in Jerusalem, He tells his disciples that one day not one stone will be left. He goes on to explain the signs of when this will be fulfilled. Everything happened just as He said it would. Jesus instructs the disciples: stay on course, stay calm, stay aware, stay on mission, and stay patient. Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved! The best part is, we don't do this on our own. Jesus will help us through the process and help us endure to the end. Our salvation is secure in Him. 

As Jesus teaches a large crowd in the temple courts, He warns against the leaders who put on a show. These are people who put on a false front to earn the respect of others, people whose hearts are not what they appear to be. Jesus then watches as the people from the crowd give their money to the treasury. The wealthy give lots, out of their abundance, but a poor widow gives two small coins, everything she has to live on. Jesus takes note of the woman and points out that she gave more than the others. No matter how much or how little we have, Jesus sees not only our actions but also where our heart is. And the way He gives everything for us will shape our hearts into a generosity that reflects His own. 

When Jesus is asked what the greatest command of all is, He responds perfectly. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself." Can we really love this way -devoting every aspect of life to God, and loving people the way we want to be loved? Actually, no,  not on our own;  but Jesus can love perfectly. Through accepting Him and learning how Jesus loves us we can grow in our love for Him and for others,  becoming more like Him. 

When the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus by asking whether or not it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, He responds with wisdom. Instead of falling into their well-laid trap He points them back to God. "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." So, what belongs to God? Everything, including us! And God not only wants us, who are made in His image, He also has an eternal plan for us too: resurrection life!

When Jesus is questioned about where His authority comes from, the religious leaders claim they do not know. He challenges them - and us -with a parable about rejecting a beloved son. Jesus then references Psalm 118, saying, "Haven't you read this passage of scripture: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'" Of course, He is the Cornerstone, a whole new aspect of God's plan is about to be revealed, and we get to be included.

As Jesus walks with His disciples He teaches them that faith in God can move mountains. We can expect big things to happen when we have relationship with Him and when our prayers align with His plan. 

What Mary and Mary discover at the empty tomb is not just startling; it is history shaping. The resurrection of Jesus has implications for all of us: sin and death defeated, and resurrection life and power released into us as well. "Come and see," says the angel at the empty tomb. Then, "Go and tell." And as we go, we discover even more evidence that Jesus is alive. 

Now that Jesus has come into Jerusalem to the shouts of "Hosanna!" from the people, the season of His ministry is shifting. In the temple itself, Jesus is bringing a dramatic shift. His heart for God's house to be "A house of prayer for all nations" is on full display as He clears the temple of its market atmosphere. How might God be shifting the season again with us today?

Yes, you can learn to hear God's voice. Join in with an evening of prophetic equipping and activation with Clem Ferris. Clem is a well-respected prophetic voice in the body of Christ today. Recorded on March 20, 2021, this is excellent instruction on hearing God's voice and then being good stewards with what we hear.

Things that seem a mystery to us are not a mystery to God. Events that are unexpected to us, even things that seem to ruin our plans, come in God's perfect timing. Seasons of undetermined waiting on God are designed for us to lean into God and trust Him through the process. 

Do you feel necessary to the kingdom of God? You are! Both the younger generation and the older generation are important to Jesus. He  wants to use the older generation to teach the younger generation how to carry His presence and bring His kingdom. 

Have you ever felt like you're sitting on the sidelines, lacking vision, and desperate for a way forward? So was Bartimaeus. When Jesus came by, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, knew that this man could help him. And when Jesus called for him, his faith was stirred and he jumped to his feet. Jesus is still stirring this kind of faith in hearts today, and he is still opening our eyes to see.