The Lost Night

"So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiphas, who was high priest that year.  Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

"...The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.  Jesus answered him, 'I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  Why do you question Me?  Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, these know what I said.'

"And when He had said this, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, 'Is that the way You answer the high priest?'  Jesus answered him, 'If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?'"

"...Annas therefore sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." John 18:12-14, 20-23, 24

It was late and Caiaphas was as bored with Jesus as Annas had been.  So what to do with Jesus at this late hour?  There was within the palace of Caiaphas, a special place, an old and now nearly dry, deep well.  Tradition suggests that Jesus may have been lowered into this well on a rope after being beaten and taunted, to wait till the next morning.

On my trip to Jerusalem we visited this same well, in the middle of this beautiful stone palace of the high priest.  There was a stairway carved into the pit now and we slowly and carefully descended the uneven stone steps.  Flood lights illuminated the steps so we would not stumble.

It was very quiet.  There was no air movement, though the air did not seem stale.  It was a very deep and large cavern that seemed to have been both natural and then worked on by man.  It was cold and humid and I half expected puddles of water at the bottom, but there was no water.  It was dry.

When we looked up, we could see the outline of the light of day filtering through the grand palace.  It gave a sense of how deeply we had stepped down, perhaps a story and a half.  We gathered in a circle in this large (perhaps 25 feet in diameter) room, against the wall and prayed together imagining that night and Jesus being roughly lowered into this space.  They turned out the lights and left us with our thoughts.

This visit to this makeshift prison was one of the most significant for me personally and I found myself in tears, thinking of Jesus, cold and tired, hungry and alone wondering if all this was necessary and worth all it meant for Him personally.  I just know without His sacrifice there would be no future for any of us and thank Him with my whole heart.

Take care with love, especially His!  Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: ANY PRAYER UPDATES TODAY?  Please send updates!  For any of you who wonder if prayer is worth taking time for, just page through previous entries and see the hand of our loving Father in action!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:   It was Adrian's, birthday over the weekend and I did not know!  Not one person remembered and during this time of difficulty with his health it has hurt him very much.  He is so fragile from his battle with cancer.  Please pray God sends him a friend to care for him as he walks this difficult road to recovery.

To Adrian from other prayer warriors:  "Adrian, please know that we pray for all those who no one ever prays for.  We started 2 days ago.....so we were praying for you on your Birthday.  But also know that we pray for all those on this list everyday when it comes out.   God knows our hearts and many pray for you as I send this e-mail out to a special list of people who are good prayer warriors.  Happy Birthday.  God loves you."

From Adrian:  "Dear D, I am weeping with thanks for this caring feedback Thank you my friends. I will go to healing rooms shortly in Caboolture. may the lord continue to bless you all. I have never been touched in this way that I can recall, thankyou Lord."

NEW PRAYER REQUEST:   Justin B and his father in India need prayer that Justin will find work in his field of BPO and voice in the Lord's perfect time.  Pray for Birgit who is in Germany.

Please pray for the many individuals in India.  Just recently the WeakDay Devotion blog is being read by many people there!  God is mysterious! 

PRAISE & THANKSGIVING:  Hans' surgery went well and he is home now recovering.  He had some amazing opportunities to witness to others of how the Lord has changes his spiritual life too!  Carlton (painful bone infections) is feeling a bit better finally. 

 PRAY FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS:  Pray for my brother, Tim, that his COPD (cardio-pulmonary artery disease) is manageable for him and that he will have the patience and wisdom to cope with the limitations. 

Fion's father is now in a hospice and they moved his mother to a nearer place so they can be together.  But they have had to move his father again.  Pray for the family and for his carers. 

Baby Saige faces a lifetime of surgeries, procedures and time in hospital.  Please pray for all those who care for her, especially her family.

"I am excited to report that Baby Saige, her parents and 3 yr. old sister came up in the front of the church Sunday (Saige was attached to her oxygen tubes, but looks so sweet from the back, as her mother held her, with dark hair, in contrast to her blonde-haired sister!) so her father could publicly thank the congregation "and all others praying around the world" for the many miraculous answers to prayer and the pouring out of love and gifts to the family during Saige's many medical procedures so far and all the ones yet to come. He broke down, overcome with tears of joy, a couple of times. -- I just had to share with you and the other prayer warriors what an impact your prayers are making in this family's lives!"

"I was touched reading Adrian's response to his belated birthday wishes and prayers.."

Please pray for those who care for Deepak's wife who was "diagnosed with a level-2 breast cancer.  Her chemo is over.  Please pray for her to be strong and find a stronger faith as she recovers. 

David R losing his eyesight due to macular degeneration.  I hope to go home to see him before he can no longer see me.  For Audley and Beverly’s situation and his return to the ministry.  For Nancy who is growing stronger and for Fred as he cares for her. 

Pray for Raven as she regains her strength from the cancer treatments.  Patty, who lost her three year old daughter four years ago has sent a most amazing letter of thanksgiving.  She is not 100% but says she is around 85%. 

Continue to pray for Scott for mental and physical healing, God focus and ability to think clearly.  Pray for the two surviving sons of Melanie Karunaratne in New Zealand. 

ONGOING JOB RELATED:   Sergio walked out of his abusive work environment yesterday and needs our prayers now more than ever - he lives in Mexico City.  Paul NS has had such an adventure trying to find a role again.  Please keep him in your prayers that he does not give up.   

 For PJ that he may find projects to fill his needs

ONGOING PRAYER REQUESTS: 

Pray the Lord’s hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read this devotion...that His mighty works would be worked out in each life for His purposes in surprising and wonderful ways!

Elaine and Jim in Hong Kong have begun a new ministry.  Please pray the Father keeps guiding them in their work. 

Isaias & Judith need our continued prayers.  "The summer here in Manila is giving us unfavourable climate and is getting hotter and hotter every day. Measles and chickenpox are rampant.  Please pray for God’s protection upon us."  They head the efforts of Ambassadors for Christ in the Philippines.  The financial needs are so great, please consider contributing...just click on Ambassadors for Christ link above. 

For Linda and Ian.  For Rob and his daughter.  For Reg.  Pray for Annette and Lyle and their wonderful family.  Pray for wisdom for my brother as he deals with an important matter.  For David K, in his studies and Matthew K as he grows up.  

PRAY FOR THE WORLD:  God’s grace on USA & REVIVAL for His children there and for the many nations and individuals suffering from global financial mismanagement.  Pray for the Catholic Church and that the new Pope will always put Jesus first.  

* "Trusting God" is copyright protected since 1988 by Jerry Bridges.  All rights are reserved, including translations.  The ISBN is 08910-91742.  I quote carefully from his book.