When Jesus said, in verse 30, it is finished, every Jewish person who heard him would have immediately understood their significance. Every year, on the Jewish holiday known as the Day of Atonement, the Jewish High Priest sacrificed an animal to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel, as prescribed in the law of Moses. The sins of the nation were symbolically placed on the animal, and its blood served as payment for those sins. Immediately after the sacrifice was made, the Priest would come out of the temple and announce, "It is finished." The sins of the nation were covered for another year.

When Jesus used that same phrase - it is finished - he signaled that the need for animal sacrifice was over. In his death, he took the sins of the world on himself and paid for them with his own blood.

The “it” in the sixth utterance of Christ on the cross - it is finished - refers to the whole reason he came to earth in the first place. He came to take the sin of the world on His shoulders and offer Himself as a sacrifice to His Father for it. He came to pay for my sins and yours. He came to give us a new beginning.

That "it" is the reason we all sit here today reconciled to God with the hope that we will live with Him, starting today and for eternity.

Let’s all remember that as Jesus uttered his last words, He was thinking about you and about me, and how he had just accomplished His mission—the "it" of making all of us God’s children again.

God, we thank you that you made a way. We thank you that although we live in rebellion, you love us and want a relationship with us. We are thankful that Jesus finished his mission and because of that, we can once again and forever call you Father. Amen.

This devotion was written by Cliff McCartney and read by Judy Wilson.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

A very wealthy man publicized that he was willing to pay a substantial price to the artist who could best illustrate the presence of peace. Several artists submitted pictures depicting sunsets, lazy rivers, and serene landscapes, but none of those were what he was looking for. One day he came across two paintings: one was a quiet mountain lake as still as glass and reflecting the bright blue sky and the mountains. Sitting next to it was a painting of the same lake, but choppy waves, dark clouds, rain, and lightning.

The people who were following this exercise watched as the man examined the paintings, thinking that of those two paintings, surely he would choose the one with the still lake and mountains. They were shocked as he chose the second picture - the one depicting the stormy lake.

The crowd looked to man, understandably confused. He explained his choice: The first painting was peaceful, but it didn’t describe where peace came from. Peace is easy to see in a crystal-clear lake with white clouds drifting across the sky.

Then he pointed out something in the second painting. There was a waterfall, and tucked into a crevice of the mountain near it was a small nest on which a mother bird sat on her eggs.

The man said, “This second painting is a picture of true, perfect peace because it is within the storms of life we find real peace in God, knowing His presence will guard and protect us even in the midst of this world’s storms.”

Peace is not the absence of strife or despair or hope. It is not the absence of anything. It is the presence of God. The word for peace used in our scripture today - eirēnē - is the same word used in Galatians chapter 5 in which the fruits of the spirit are listed: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is the same word used in Paul's letter to the Philippians in which he says that the peace of God "which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Strong's Concordance beautifully defines eirēnē as, "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is."

When Jesus said he was leaving his peace with us he was speaking of an active component of a life lived under the influence of the Holy Spirit; a peace that is unlike what passes for peace in our world today. It is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Jehovah Shalom - the "God who brings peace."

We all can have that peace. We just have to ask—and receive.

Father, thank you for your peace. Thank you for always being with us. Give us the strength to share your peace with all those we meet. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Isaiah 42:1-9 is often referred to as the first of the Servant Songs. Early in the history of the Christian church these songs became associated with the life, ministry and death of Jesus. God, through the Prophet Isaiah is proclaiming new things will happen. And new things require a new song, sung not just by some, but by all the earth!

In Luke, the story of Jesus’ birth, the new thing that God declared would happen, is filled with music. We have Mary’s song, called the Magnificat, Zechariah’s song, the Angel’s singing “Glory to God in the highest!” on the night of his birth and in the temple Simeon breaks into song at seeing the infant Jesus. It seems as if all the world is singing as God does a new thing.

What a great reminder to all of us. When new and amazing things happen in our lives we should not take them for granted but instead pause and sing out our praise.

When the news is joyous, like the birth of a baby, praise comes easily to hand. But sometimes the new things come with loss and heartache and pain. Are we still to sing a new song to the Lord?

We know the answer, it is yes. If not for what we are experiencing, at least for the knowledge that God is with us and we are not going though this time alone. And that song may go out and touch people in ways we do not expect.

So God is always doing a new thing in our lives. Sometimes what is new causes us great joy and at times what is new is also pain filled. Even then we are comforted that God is with us. Our God is the God of creation. Our God is continually doing a new thing. We are encouraged to sing praises to God for his love and faithfulness.

Where has God done a new thing in your life? Did you pause to sing out your praise? It isn’t too late to do it now. Where is God doing a new thing right now in your life? Are you singing your praises?

Loving God. We take comfort that you are with us in all the newness of life. May we always celebrate your loving presence by singing a song of praise and may it echo to the ends of the earth. Amen.

This devotion was written by Bill Green and read by Amy Large.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

This verse is part of a Psalm that is a direct conversation with God. It moves from the emotions of dismay, despair and wailing to dancing, joy and praise. The Psalmist moves from the realm of death to renewed life and hope in the Lord.

We all have moments in our lives that cause us dismay and despair. These moments stop us in our tracks and can change the course of our lives. They test our resilience and faith.

Bishop Michael Curry, who is the first African American Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, described such an event in his memoir, Love is the Way.

In 1986, Curry was serving as Rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Baltimore. He found himself in a once prosperous church, the church where Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall had been baptized. But the neighborhood had changed, As Curry said, “In West Baltimore, high society had long ago ceded the area to the merely ‘high.’” Crack cocaine had taken over the streets. Curry encouraged the church to reach out into the community and reclaim the lives of children and the poor. He believed “the church is the only society that exists primarily for those who are not its members.” He and other ministers went out into the streets and preached. St. James established programs for children and youth. The church was making a difference.

But one night lightning from a thunderstorm struck the church tower and the entire roof caught fire. Curry feared that “Another good, lasting part of the neighborhood seemed to be disappearing before our eyes.” The fire chief told Curry the only way to save the building was to break the largest stained-glass window to allow oxygen in. Curry gave permission and the firemen saved the building but lost the window and the roof. It felt like God was giving up on this neighborhood. It felt like a time of weeping and loss.

A reporter at the scene asked Curry if the church would rebuild in the suburbs. But Curry looked around and saw a young neighborhood boy who was in St. James’ confirmation class. And he said aloud, “We are not leaving. We will rebuild right here.”

And over the next two years the congregation did just that, meeting in a plain parish hall in folding chairs. It was a time of joy and renewal. Bishop Curry said, it “might have been the best years we had at St. James.”

What seemed like a disaster actually brought renewal. By the time Bishop Curry moved on, the congregation had grown from 250 to 400.

Let us pray: Dear God, help us see the hope in times of loss. Help us experience renewal when all we can see is destruction in our lives. We know that you are with us and will show us how to reclaim and renew our lives for your purposes. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This devotional was written by Laura Derr and read by Ryan Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at

A tiny seed growing to great stature! That is what we can all be! Through our actions we can be the wind that gusts upon the calm waters of the pond, stirring up a ripple effect for Christian good in our community.

The editorial notations in my Bible indicate that the book of Mark is one of action! Forty two times the Greek word for hurry up is used across Mark. This gospel is imploring us to hurry up! Make a difference for Jesus!

So let’s follow Mark’s example and let’s hurry up and grow our own faith. Let’s hurry up and get out there in the world and make a difference modeling the love that God has for us.

There are so many things that can grow as the mustard seed does. This podcast originated as an idea, a discussion among three Christians that I know of, and they hurried up and got busy!

In my own experience at the food pantry, local middle schoolers hurried up and collected bags and bags of canned goods that were donated. Well, all those cans upon arrival at the pantry had to be organized into flats and moved onto the shelves. We hurried up and got busy!

For some reason those students were focused on peas! With their own creativity, I am told that they created a “leaning tower of Peasahhh”! They hurried up and got busy, and we had plenty of peas on flats, on shelves to share with those in need, to share God’s love, as those students and their teachers did!

Heavenly Father, give us the energy and conviction to hurry up as Mark urges us to model our lives after Jesus! Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Sam Barto.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Adam

Jesus Christ

Dust and breathe to dust

The Word incarnate, eternal

Sin

Grace

Broken

Unbreakable

Selfish sin

Grace-filled sacrifice and forgiveness

Take and take and take

Freely given in boundless measure

The gift given through Jesus Christ is so fundamentally different from any sin committed by Adam or any other person that there is no comparison to be made. No strength I have, no love I share, no forgiveness I offer, no sin I commit, no anger I feel compares with God’s act of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

Nothing I do—absolutely nothing—good or bad will ever be greater than the love and forgiveness shared through the gift of Jesus Christ.

Friend, if you take one thing today, let it be the grace of God. Take it humbly. Take it with thanksgiving. Take it to share with all you encounter today and become one in the body of Christ.

Merciful God, whose immeasurable grace always exceeds our greatest trespass, may we receive your gift of grace with joy, that it may, indeed, overflow to many. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope, and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

It long has been recognized that the more clearly an organization understands its mission and the more nearly it operates by that mission, the more effective it is. This is true of corporations, non-profits, athletic teams, and other organized groups, including churches. So the fundamental question for any group to ask is: what is our mission?

It likewise is true that individuals who discover a personal mission and build vision and behavior around it likely live highly productive and rewarding lives. Therefore, all of us would do well to ask ourselves: what is my mission in life?

As Jesus began his ministry he announced his mission when he preached his very first sermon in his home synagogue in Nazareth. It’s worth noting that this came after he had: 1) Been baptized, and in effect, commissioned; 2) Spent 40 days of preparation and discernment in the Judean wilderness. The mission statement of Jesus, which we read a moment ago, is followed by his declaration, “The scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day.” In other words, Jesus was saying of the Isaiah prophecy, “This is me. This is what I came to do. This is my Mission!”

Those of us who have pledged our allegiance to Jesus as Lord and Savior, who have committed to follow in his steps, should see that his mission must become our own, and we are called to the very people he identified in his inaugural public message. Notice again, who these people are:

1. The poor
2. The captives
3. The blind
4. The oppressed

It is easy to forget that our Lord saw his mission to the marginalized of society. And Christians, when we understand Jesus, know these are the very people we are to be lifting up. It was his mission. And it’s ours.

Dear God, Forgive us when we limit Jesus to what he means to us and what he has done for us. Remind us again that belonging to him means that he sends us out to where there is brokenness and darkness. Help us to make his work our work, and his people our people. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Herb Sadler.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the...