The scriptures read are 1 Samuel 10-12, Psalm 83 and John 18.
1 Samuel 10. Samuel anoints Saul and tells him what will happen to him the rest of the day. When Saul encounters a band of prophets, playing music and prophesying, he is filled with God's Spirit and finds himself prophesying along with them. That convinces Saul.
Samuel calls the nation together, makes a show of selecting Saul and declares him God's choice as king. That is, after someone hauls Saul out from behind a pile of luggage, where he was hiding. Still not used to the idea.
1 Samuel 11. Saul wins against evil king Nahash of the Ammonites. The people officially crown him king.
1 Samuel 12. Samuel rains on everyone's celebration.
Psalm 83. A prayer asking for help against the enemies of Israel and God.
John 18. John gets arrested, having given himself up and asked that the disciples be let go. Peter spoils things by cutting off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Only John tells us his name is Malchus. John also tells us that a relative of Malchus was one of those who asked Peter if he didn't see him with Jesus. That makes Peter's denial understandable if not excusable.
Jesus' first round with Pilate. Again John provides the accurate observation that the religious leaders would not go into the Antonia Fortress so as to avoid ritual uncleanness. Pilate sounds particularly testy in John's account. Having to go out to hear the charges from the religious authorities probably doesn't help.
Jesus makes a key point: were his kingdom earthly, his followers would fight for him. Too bad later generations of so-called Christians, keen on killing for Christ, didn't listen to the man himself.
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