Memory Text: Jeremiah 12:5 NKJV “"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?”

Sunday – The Power Model
John 6:1-15 NLT “1 ¶ After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 "There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered. So all of them—the men alone numbered five thousand—sat down on the grassy slopes. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 12 "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." 13 There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! 14 When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!" 15 ¶ Jesus saw that they were ready to take him by force and make him king, so he went higher into the hills alone.”

Monday – The Greed Model
John 12:1-6 Holman “1 ¶ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.”
John 12:6 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The word translated bag is compounded of two words, meaning "tongue," and "to keep or preserve." It was used to denote the bag in which musicians used to keep the tongues or reeds of their pipes when travelling. Hence it came to mean any bag or purse in which travellers put their money or their most precious articles. The disciples appear to have had such a bag or purse in common, in which they put whatever money they had, and which was designed especially for the poor. The keeping of this, it seems, was intrusted to Judas; and it is remarkable that the only one among them who appears to have been naturally avaricious should have received this appointment. It shows us that every man is tried according to his native propensity. This is the object of trial--to bring out man's native character; and every man will find opportunity to do evil according to his native disposition, if he is inclined to it.
Other Scriptures That Might Help Us Understand:
Matthew 13:46 God’s Word to the Nations “When he found a valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it.”
Philippines 3:8 God’s Word to the Nations “It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ”
1 Timothy 6:10 KJ21 “For the love of money is the root of all evil; and while some have coveted after it, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Tuesday – The Thunder Model
Luke 9:51-56 CEV “51 ¶ Not long before it was time for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 53 But he was on his way to Jerusalem, so the people there refused to welcome him. 54 When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?" 55 But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said. 56 Then they all went on to another village.”
Luke 9:54 COMMENTARY THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL This rejection roused the ire of the two sons of thunder and prompted them to suggest that the example of Elijah be followed (2Ki 1:9-12), but Jesus was a Saviour and not a destroyer, so he passed on to another village.
Possible Sources of This Attitude:
Genesis 6 & 7 – the story of the Flood
Matthew 8:12 NIV “But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."”
Matthew 13:42 NIV “They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Mark 6:11 NIV “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."”

Wednesday – The Repentant-Peter Model
John 18:1-11 Moffatt NT “1 ¶ Having said this, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron ravine to an orchard, which he entered in the company of his disciples. 2 Judas the traitor also knew the spot, for Jesus and his disciples often met there. 3 So after procuring troops and some attendants belonging to the high priests and the Pharisees, Judas went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, who knew everything that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" 5 "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. Jesus said, "I am he." (And Judas the traitor was standing beside them.) 6 When he said, "I am he," they fell back and dropped to the ground; 7 so he asked them once more, "Who are you looking for?" And when they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene," 8 he answered, "I told you that I am he; if it is me you are looking for, let these men get away" 9 (this was to fulfil his own word: ‘I did not lose a single one of those whom thou didst give me’). 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear (the servant’s name was Malchus); 11 whereupon Jesus said to Peter, "Sheathe your sword. Am I not to drink the cup which the Father has handed me?"”
John 18:10 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN John being "known to the high priest" (Joh 18:15), the mention of the servant's name by him is quite natural, and an interesting mark of truth in a small matter. As to the right ear, specified both here and in Luke (Lu 22:50), the man was "likely foremost of those who advanced to seize Jesus, and presented himself in the attitude of a combatant; hence his right side would be exposed to attack. The blow of Peter was evidently aimed vertically at his head" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
Matthew 26:69-75 Holman “69 ¶ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.” 70 But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Jesus’ attitude when we repent:
John 21:15-19 NRSV “15 ¶ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."”
John 21:15 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Peter now made no pretensions to love superior to his brethren. His sad denial had convinced him of the folly of that claim; but still he could appeal to the Searcher of the heart, and say that he knew that he loved him. Here is the expression of a humbled soul--a soul made sensible of its weakness and need of strength, yet with evidence of true attachment to the Saviour.

Thursday – The Flight Model
Matthew 26:56 Holman “But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.”
Matthew 26:56 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE O what is man! How little is even his utmost sincerity to be depended on! Jesus is abandoned by all!-even zealous Peter and loving John are among the fugitives! Was ever master so served by his scholars? Was ever parent so treated by his children? Is there not as much zeal and love among them all as might make one martyr for God and truth? Alas! no. He had but twelve who professed inviolable attachment to him; one of these betrayed him, another denied him with oaths, and the rest run away and utterly abandon him to his implacable enemies! Are there not found among his disciples still, 1st. Persons who betray him and his cause? 2dly. Persons who deny him and his people? 3dly. Persons who abandon him, his people, his cause, and his truth? Reader! dost thou belong to any of these classes?
Matthew 26:56 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY The eleven apostles who a little while before thought they never could forsake the Lord. As soon as the Lord was seized they fled into the darkness.
Matthew 26:56 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Overcome with fear, when they saw their Master actually taken; alarmed with the terrific appearance of armed men, and torches in a dark night; and forgetting their promises not to forsake him, they all left their Saviour to go alone.
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James Brenneman