The One Year New Testament
August 28
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John 7:45-52
John 7:45-52
45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Reflection
Nicodemus, who originally came to Jesus at night (John 3:2), now seems ready to defend him. While he doesn’t actually claim to follow Jesus, he at least tries to slow down the plans of Christ’s enemies. Nicodemus is not yet ready to declare his loyalty to Christ, but there has been movement in his heart that will eventually mature in its devotion (cf. 19:39–42). Though the change may come in stages, Jesus ultimately transforms everything about us.
Hebrews 5:1-14
Hebrews 5:1-14
2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Reflection
Christ was appointed to be our High Priest according to the will of God (Heb. 5:5–6). This role required him to be both God and man. The book of Hebrews highlights Jesus’ deity when it refers to him as the “Son” (vv. 5, 8). The book highlights the genuineness of his humanity when it speaks of Jesus’ “flesh,” his “loud cries and tears,” his learning “obedience,” the fact that “he suffered,” and the reality that he was “made perfect” by completing his assignment (vv. 7–9). The eternal Son of God became a genuine human.
Fallen humanity needed a Mediator— a go-between—to make the relationship between God and man possible. There were three qualifications for the position of Mediator between God and humanity: candidates must be God, they must human, and they need “on the job” experience. Jesus met all three criteria when he —the immortal God —took on flesh and lived a painful human life of suffering in obedience to his Father. How the Son of God loved us to humble himself in such a way! Our lives must say “thank you” every day for such matchless grace.
Psalm 25:5
Psalm 25:5
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Thoughts For Prayer
Like Nicodemus, we are all in the process of being transformed by Christ. Take hope from knowing that he is the one who began this work in you and he will be sure to finish it (Phil. 1:6).
Missions Prayer Requests More
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August 28, 2025
Supported Workers: Andrew & Angie James
Country: Uruguay
On August 30, an evangelistic outreach will be held at their new church facility in Montevideo. Pray that unbelievers will come and for much spiritual fruit from the event. Continue to thank the Lord for Andrew and Angie as they serve him in Uruguay and pray that their family will continue to grow in their faith and in their love for the Lord.
Madagascar (Africa). Population: 32,740,678 Believers: 11.5%. The old beliefs still prevail in many ways, despite the growth and spread of Christianity. Compromise with the old beliefs, veneration of ancestral spirits, and witchcraft is widespread among those who claim to be Christian. A Christian veneer often prevails, but many have little understanding of the biblical message of salvation. Revival as well as biblical teaching and leadership are urgently needed. Pray for a new move of the Holy Spirit to reawaken these churches that have such a strong legacy. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org
The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.