Psalm: 97

Meditation Matthew: Two events are depicted here. First, Jesus foretells His death (for the third time) that He will be apprehended by His own people (priests and scribes) and then off to the Gentiles to be crucified. And then, as if intentionally to drive that thought quickly from the disciples’ minds, the second, and, in my opinion far more mundane issue, James’ and John’s mother asked that her sons be seated one on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus very succinctly explains that her request was not in His power to grant.

Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

New Testament: Romans 5:1-11

Old Testament: Numbers 17:1-11