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

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

Blasphemy!

For Saturday, March 23, 2024:

Mark 14:63-64a NLT: After hearing Jesus claiming to be the I AM, “The high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, ‘Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.’”

In spite of what they called it, this confrontation with Jesus wasn’t a real trial. Much like Putin being elected President of Russia, the verdict was known before the event ever took place.

Yesterday I pointed out the significance of Jesus calling himself the I AM. But it wouldn’t have mattered much what he said. The high priest called it blasphemy, and anything Jesus said would have been called blasphemy. The high council’s goal wasn’t to conduct a fair trial. The goal from the get-go was to eliminate this man competing for power and tithes. Furthermore, Jesus was teaching a philosophy that differed from the Temple teaching. The Temple teachers were consumed with enforcing the law, while Jesus taught forgiveness and love. Love God, love your neighbor.

So by tearing his clothes and calling Jesus’ testimony blasphemy, the High Priest in effect declared Jesus guilty. All present seemed to be on board. They spit upon Jesus and beat him. Mob mentality prevailed. The mob would do things that no individual would never do.

Don’t ever join the mob!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Kangaroo Court!

For Thursday, March 21, 2024:

Mark 14:60-61a NLT: “Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, ‘Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?’ But Jesus was silent and made no reply.”

Imagine being arrested in the middle of the night, and immediate going to trial. No one present would testify on Jesus’ behalf. He had no lawyer and no defense strategy. In fact, everyone in the place was against him.

His accusers presented false testimony; lies! Jesus didn’t answer the charges. If everything being said is a lie, how can you possibly respond to untruths?

Tradition tells us that those against Jesus would have sat in a half circle, facing him. Then the high priest stood, perhaps to be more imposing, more threatening, which tells us that up to that point, Jesus was still considered innocent. Those opposing Jesus hadn’t yet made their case. But someone standing, taking a step forward and yelling appears much more menacing! That’s what the high priest had been reduced to: Putting on a show to support deception; using threats to justify all the lies. I’m glad he’s not my priest!

The conspirators had stacked the deck against Jesus. But it’s not over yet. Remember there are actually six trials, three before Temple leaders and three before Roman leaders. Our place in this is to acknowledge Jesus as the heaven-sent Messiah, God’s Son and our redeemer. Jesus told us he would rise in three days, and we have faith in his words!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Mission Accomplished!

For Tuesday, March 19, 2024:

Mark 14:55 NLT: “Inside, the leading priests and the entire high Sanhedrin council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any.”

Jesus, who had done nothing wrong, would face six trials or judgments, three before a religious court, and three before a Roman court. No one could find any evidence against Jesus, but his adversaries persisted.

Nowadays we would call this a “kangaroo court,” an unjust group which is without proper authority and characterized by dishonesty. This trial of Jesus was totally illegal according to Jewish law. Just like in our country, there was much in the Jewish legal process to protect the rights of the accused. Those rights were deliberately ignored by those who were determined to put Jesus to death.

Surprisingly, Jesus’ oppressors couldn’t even put together a decent case for their position. Their witnesses kept contradicting each other!

Remember that Jesus was on a mission trip to earth. While he taught and healed people, I believe his primary mission was to take the sin of the world upon himself, deliver it to the place of the dead, thereby leaving believers pure, forgiven, acceptable to join the Lord in heaven.

As bad as this all seems, it was fulfilling God’s plan for mankind’s rescue. We should be grateful to Jesus for obedience, for following God’s masterplan for our rescue. And we should thank the Lord for a second chance, for an opportunity to repent and return.

When this entire scenario draws to a close, Jesus could shout out, “Mission accomplished!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Maundy Thursday!

For Thursday, April 6, 2023:

Matthew 26:26 NLT: “As the twelve were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’”

Jesus knew the hour was coming when he would fulfill his mission, dying to forgive the sins of mankind. He taught and preached and told many parables in those last days. He confronted the errant religious leaders.

This is Maundy Thursday, the night Jesus was to be betrayed. He chose to spend it with the twelve. As they ate their final meal together, Jesus passed out bread and wine, and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” So, following his instructions, we do the same today in remembrance of our Savior. We call it Holy Communion.

That night Jesus would be betrayed by Judas, arrested, and tried before priests, elders and eventually Pilate. Pilate offered the mob a choice: Which man should he would release? When it came to Jesus, the crowd shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!” The journey to Golgotha had begun.

Tomorrow’s Friday, but remember that Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship