Maundy Thursday!

For Thursday, April 2, 2026, Maundy Thursday:

Matthew 26:21 NLT: “While they were eating (the Last Supper), Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

This was an unpleasant day in the Christian diary. Jesus knew this was their last meal together. He knew the end was imminent. But the 12 remained optimistic despite opposition from Jewish leaders and the Roman government. God, in his wisdom, made this day of suffering go quickly.

Before the meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, a task usually executed by servants. Jesus emphasized that he had come to serve, not to be served. Simon Peter protested, but eventually relented. Following the meal, Jesus instituted what we call Holy Communion, telling those present to “Do this in remembrance of me.” They then adjourned to the Mount of Olives.

Judas Iscariot later betrayed Jesus, pointing him out so he could be arrested by representatives of the leading priests and elders. He was brought before the high priest, Caiaphas, and those involved in the conspiracy sought witnesses who would lie about Jesus to get him killed. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. This all happened overnight. The rooster crowed the next morning.

Found guilty in a kangaroo court, it was up to Mount Calvary. Jesus had been beaten and spat upon, then nailed to a cross stuck high in the air. The 12 had abandoned him, fearing for their own lives, I suspect.

The story ends tomorrow, on Good Friday. Or does it?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Kingdom!

For Wednesday, March 4, 2026:

John 14:3 NLT, Jesus speaking about our next life in the Kingdom: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.“

Jesus said he would prepare a place for loyal believers, and when that’s ready, he’ll meet us with open arms as we transition to the next reality. At that time, it might have seemed like a lot was going wrong around Jesus. But he’s not worried, and he doesn’t want the believers to worry either. It’s all going to work out for the best!

Think about it. If Jesus hadn’t been betrayed, he wouldn’t have been arrested. Without the arrest, there would have been no mock trial in the kangaroo court where he was found guilty and eventually crucified. We usually think of death as a bad thing, but this time Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and mankind was given a fresh start! With our sins forgiven, we could once again seek residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom! You see, everything that happened was part of God’s vast eternal plan!

It all played out exactly as Jesus knew it would, a series of illogical steps in exactly the right order that allowed God’s plan to come to fruition. God knows exactly what he’s doing, wouldn’t you say?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

End of the Age!

January 19, 2026, Monday Message:

Matthew 24:13 NLT, Jesus speaking: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Jesus is teaching about the end times. He paints a glorious picture of those who are loyal all the way to the end. But his emphasis on stick-to-itiveness tells me to take a look at those who don’t have the character to see the end times in Jesus’ time.

As this age ends, Satan will cast a thousand demons in our paths to take our eyes off the prize. Discouragement is just the beginning. Believers will be arrested, persecuted and sometimes killed. (Those killed while still believing will be rescued!) The world may hate you for being a Christ-loyalist. Many will be deceived and turn away from what they know is right. Liars and false prophets will be abundant. Sin will be everywhere, and the love of Jesus will be relatively unknown on earth.

Reject anything that isn’t true. The key is to stick with Jesus until the end of the age. Your dogged tenacity will be rewarded with a heavenly life after this life, and a permanent change of address to God’s Eternal Kingdom.

Believe the truth now, and have your Change-of-address forms ready to go!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Satan: God's Pawn!

For Thursday, November 6, 2025:

John 14:30b-31a NLT, Jesus speaking: “The ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.”

Jesus knows his time on earth is drawing to a close. It’s nearly time for him to return to the Father. He calls Satan the “ruler of this world,” which seems odd. We all know that ultimately, God is in charge of everything. Therefore, God will allow Satan to rule the world only as long as it meets his purpose. Satan will poison the heart of Judas Iscariot as he betrays Jesus, thereby setting God’s plan in motion.

Here’s what God had Judas instigate. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. On the cross, the sins of the world were heaped upon sinless Jesus. He was to take those sins to the place of the dead and leave them there. That way, mankind, forgiven and now appearing sinless, could join believers in the life after this life. God’s eternal Kingdom, Heaven, could be the forever home for all who call Jesus “Lord.”

God knew that mankind would succumb to Satan’s temptations. But God’s desire is that none would perish, that all would repent and return. So in advance, he planned for mankind’s rescue. He did for us what we are not able to do for ourselves.

God is good to us, far better than we deserve!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Beginning of the End!

For Tuesday, July 29, 2025:

John 12:23 NLT: “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.”

In this Gospel, the Palm Parade is behind us, and the cross is in the future. Answering questions, Jesus predicts his death.

A terrible time is coming. Betrayal, false arrest, kangaroo court, whippings and finally crucifixion lay in Jesus’ future. Sounds terrible, and it was. But if Jesus is to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world, his death is part of God’s vast eternal plan! Like many things in life, this too will pass, and things will be much better when it does. Jesus’ life will be better as he is resurrected and eventually returns to heaven. Our lives will be better as the penalty has been prepaid for our sins. Jesus made it possible for mankind to spend eternity with Almighty God in His Kingdom.

All those who serve Jesus, those who call him Savior, are holding heavenly tickets. We will join Jesus in the hereafter. Remember that God’s desire is that none would perish; that all would repent and return. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. No need to pack. Everything will be provided. God is good!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Not Guilty!

For Thursday, July 10, 2025:

John 11:57 NLT, as people were gathering for Passover: “The leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report the sighting immediately so they could arrest him.”

To say that Jewish leadership had it in for Jesus would be an understatement. As Jesus’ popularity increased, leadership sensed an impending church split, and they wanted to nip it in the bud. As I’ve said before, when worshipers leave, their tithes leave too! The case against Jesus was primarily centered on power and wealth.

Theologically though, Jesus was spot on. He preached loyalty to the same God. He exalted the same prophets. He observed the law of Moses, the commandments God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. There was only one point of contention. Jesus claimed to be the heaven-sent Son of God. Blasphemy, they called it! Religious leadership had never seen or heard of anything like this, and they not only didn’t believe but wanted to crush this errant philosophy.

Jesus’ arrest would be the first step in his demise, leading to sham trials in kangaroo courts and ultimately to the cross. When this scenario came to fruition, the Pharisees thought they had won. But on the cross, Jesus took mankind’s sins to the place of the dead, thereby redeeming believers and fulfilling God’s vast eternal plan. In fact, God won!

And because of what Jesus did, all believers are winners!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God Almighty Wins!

March 04, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 14:44b NLT, Judas Iscariot speaking: ““The one I kiss is Jesus; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”

The entire scenario played out just as Jesus had predicted. He knew the betrayal was coming, and he knew who would betray him. Jesus was arrested, and fearing the temple guards, the crowd with him dispersed.

Those arresting Jesus had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the Temple elders. You’d assume that they would cheer for the Son of God, not try to kill him! Their soldiers were armed with swords and clubs to capture Jesus, who always preached kindness and love. Seems like overkill!

Two thoughts come to mind. #1. Jesus said, “The Scriptures must be fulfilled.” And this distasteful event was fulfilling scripture.

#2. We are blessed to have the complete story of Jesus’ time on earth. It’s called the Bible! Reading ahead, we can see that Jesus’ arrest was not the end. Even hanging him from a cross was not the end. Three days later, when the bad guys assumed that Jesus was dead, he walked out of the tomb! Many people saw him and heard him. And eventually a crowd of believers watched as Jesus ascended into heaven and returned to the Father! The bad guys didn’t win! God almighty always wins!

On the cross, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. That way those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus as Savior will get to spend eternity in God’s heavenly Kingdom.

Thank you, Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship