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

Betrayal!

September 8, 2025, Monday Message:

John 13:27 NLT: “When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”

I once owned a small business. One Christmas Eve, someone picked up a very large order and paid with cash, nearly $2,000.00. Our bank was closed for the holiday, so the deposit would have to wait until the next business day. That night, a break-in was staged, and all the cash went missing. I say “staged” because it turned out to be an inside job. My right-hand man had cut a hole in a wooden door to make it look like a crime, and absconded with the cash. Silly – he had keys to the place! I would have been a little angry if it were a random burglary, but I felt deeply hurt that a trusted employee could have done such a thing. I know what betrayal feels like. Fortunately, I only lost money. Jesus lost his life!

When Satan indwelt Judas, it was no longer Judas making decisions. Satan was perpetrating evil from within Judas’ body. Similarly, demons indwelling humans cause them to make irrational decisions, doing things that violate their value system. Recovery requires that those demons be cast out, exorcized.

Since two things cannot occupy the same space, (see Science 101,) filling someone with Jesus leaves little room for demons! And since Jesus was present, he could have cast out Satan. But he knew God’s plan for mankind’s forgiveness. Jesus was to be the sacrifice, paying the penalty for mankind’s sins. Obedience to the Father took precedence, and Jesus had to allow this scenario to play out. It would be painful, but only for a short time.

In the end, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Those who sign on with Jesus receive forgiveness and will spend eternity in God’s Kingdom, Heaven.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Scripture Fulfilled!

Daily message of hope...
For Sunday, August 31, 2025:

John 13:18b, Jesus speaking: “This fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’”

Jesus is referring to Psalm 34:9. It’s one thing to claim to be the Messiah, but another to fulfill ancient prophesies! Jesus was again proving that he was heaven-sent!

Omniscient Jesus already knew who would betray him. It was one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot. We know their famous meal as the “Last Supper.”

For his last night on earth, Jesus (being God) could have done anything he wanted. But what he chose to do was to take a meal with his best friends, his church friends. Jesus instituted the bread and the cup that night, what we call Holy Communion. And Judas, who thought he was betraying Jesus, was actually fulfilling God’s vast eternal plan. Jesus needed to die to take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, his primary mission in coming to earth. In fact, everything that happened that Good Friday, including the crucifixion, brought God’s plan to fruition.

God’s way is always the right way. God’s way is always the best way! And because, in the grace of God’s plan, we are redeemed!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship

Came to Serve!

For Wednesday, August 27, 2025:

John 13:14, Jesus speaking: “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.”

Two thousand years ago, the prevalent attitude was to look out for #1. Loving your neighbor was an afterthought at best. Jesus spent a lot of time trying to change that. We are to love the Lord and love our neighbors, which is imitating Jesus, doing what Jesus did.

If you walk around the Middle East in sandals, it’s a cinch that your feet will need washing. To have someone else take on this task for you is a blessing, and that’s exactly what Jesus did for the disciples.

When the washing was complete, Jesus made an announcement: “Not all of you are clean.” He knew who would betray him. Friends, not every favor is appreciated or rewarded, but we still do the right things for the right reasons. Believers should be obedient!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Rotten Apple!

For Friday, July 18, 2025:

John 12:6b NLT: “Judas Iscariot was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.”

As the New Covenant was being introduced to Israel, it was Jesus and the 12 leading the way. We accept Jesus, the heaven-sent Son of God, without question. The other 12 require a second look.

They were a diverse lot, ranging from tax collector to fishermen. To say they were religiously uneducated would be an understatement. It was on-the-job training as they ministered alongside Jesus, adopting his theology and philosophy as they taught others.

With a dozen random members on the leadership team, we would be naive to not expect one rotten apple in the barrel. Judas Iscariot was that guy. In his Gospel, John calls Judas a thief. Apparently, he stole from the group for personal gain, and apparently, this was well known within the group. Jesus must have known too, but other matters were higher up on his agenda. And if Jesus was eventually destined to give his life to atone for the sins of the world, someone would need to betray him, and that task had Judas’ name written all over it! I mean, Jesus didn’t just show up one day and say, “Kill me now!” No, fulfilling his Father’s plan turned out to be highly confrontational!

Friends, we need to always look at the big picture. Yes, Judas was a bad guy, but he was the one to fulfill God’s rescue plan for mankind! While you’re cursing Judas, remember to praise God!

No one is worthless; they can always serve as a bad example!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Traitor!

For Thursday, February 29, 2024:

Mark 14:11b NLT: “Judas Iscariot began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.”

Apparently Judas’ mind was already made up. He went to the leading priests seeking their permission to betray Jesus. They had been hoping to kill Jesus anyway, and this could expedite the event.

The priests offered Judas money in exchange for his help with this. How much is the Son of Man’s life worth, this miracle worker, this great healer? Turns out thirty pieces of silver was the price.

In the dark night, it was difficult to see, difficult to positively identify people. So Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek and called him Master, clearly pointing him out to the Sanhedrin. This betrayal happened after the Thursday night dinner where Jesus gave us Holy Communion, and before the next day, what we call Good Friday, which is to say it all went south rather quickly.

Having second thoughts, Judas tried to return the money, but the deed was already done. Eventually he hung himself, and the priests used the money to buy a field in which to bury strangers.

Our take-away from this incident is to closely examine those teaching religion, especially those who might be false prophets. That one of the twelve would betray the master is beyond belief. After living and traveling with Jesus for three years and witnessing all the miracles, you’d expect loyalty from Judas. And the priests and teachers of religion should have been supporting God’s Son, not plotting against him. And yet they’re masquerading as priests! Hypocrites!

Compare everything you’re taught with what your Bible says. The Bible is always right!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship