Isaiah 44:21-22 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are My servant;
I formed you, you are My servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like a mist.
Return to Me,
for I have redeemed you.
Psalm 9:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to Muth-labben. A Davidic psalm.
I will thank Yahweh with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.
Proverbs 18:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible
An offended brother is harder to reach
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.
Romans 5:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Hebrews 2:14-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.
Psalm 8:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yahweh, our Lord,
how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!
Proverbs 18:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.
Romans 11:1-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel?
Lord, they have killed Your prophets
and torn down Your altars.
I am the only one left,
and they are trying to take my life!
But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Psalm 8:3-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
When I observe Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You set in place,
what is man that You remember him,
the son of man that You look after him?
You made him little less than God
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him lord over the works of Your hands;
You put everything under his feet:
all the sheep and oxen,
as well as the animals in the wild,
the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea
that pass through the currents of the seas.
Proverbs 18:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.
Titus 2:11-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
Ephesians 1:11-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
Psalm 8:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Because of Your adversaries,
You have established a stronghold
from the mouths of children and nursing infants
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV)
The world we live in today has found ways to justify what God has called out as sin. Rather than accepting responsibility for our choices, we place the onus on our Creator by claiming that He is the one who created us with whatever urges we seek to satisfy. "It isn't my fault! I was made this way." Have you heard someone say that? Have you said it yourself?
Temptation is on every street corner and on every television screen. We are reminded continually that the scratch for our particular itch is readily available. "No money? No problem!" "No one needs to know." "It doesn't make you a bad person if you over-indulge in substances or physical gratification." "What does it really matter? Tomorrow is a new day, worry about it then not now." "Reach for what you want, everyone else does." "If someone gets hurt then they shouldn't have gotten in your way."
The enemy is always ready with a lie to make it easier for us to do what we know we shouldn't. But if God has named something as sin, then it is sin indeed.
In Romans 6:23 Paul reminds us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." We do not need to be held captive by our sin. Jesus came so that we could have forgiveness and be free from the tyranny of wrongdoing.
Writing about sin is difficult. Difficult because it is personal, and yet, universal. Romans 3:23 says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Each of us wrestles with something that needs to be brought to the foot of the cross and left there, never to be picked up again. That is what repentance is.
1 John 1:9 calls our attention to a magnificent promise, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Almighty God, the great I Am, will hear us and forgive us. Not only that, but He does not put a limit on how many times He will forgive us. This doesn't mean we should continue in the same sin but, if we slip, we can return and repent and that forgiveness will be there.
There is an interesting quote by Paul David Tripp that I would like to share. He says, "Sin doesn't always look sinful to us; sometimes it looks beautiful. That's why we need grace to see sin for what it really is - dark, dangerous, enslaving and destructive."
Our sin separates us from the Lord. It creates a chasm that can only be bridged by the love and sacrifice of Jesus. In order to obtain that grace and forgiveness we have to go through Him. He is the only way to eternal life. We have to learn to be honest about the sin in our lives. We have to stop making excuses, stop justifying our wrongs, accept the fact that we are sinners and repent. Also, we need to be careful that we are not giving our approval for sin in someone else's life.
Father, thank you for telling us the truth about sin and how it affects our relationship with you. Please help us to have open eyes, minds and hearts so that we can see the damage it is doing in our lives. Remind us that you have made a way for us to be cleansed and free. And thank you for your grace and for never giving up on us. Amen.
Proverbs 18:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A gift opens doors for a man
and brings him before the great.
Matthew 28:16-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:5-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Psalm 8:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A Davidic psalm.
Yahweh, our Lord,
how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with Your majesty.
Proverbs 18:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.
2 Timothy 1:8-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.
He has saved us and called us
with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.
This has now been made evident
through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,
who has abolished death
and has brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel.
For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 7:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;
I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.
Proverbs 18:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?
Leviticus 20:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am Yahweh your God. Keep My statutes and do them; I am Yahweh who sets you apart.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.
He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.
Psalm 7:14-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible
See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.
His trouble comes back on his own head,
and his violence falls on the top of his head.
If you look very closely at our society, you will see a culture of wanting things their way and a desire to have things delivered immediately. With the advent of the Internet, things became even more custom-tailored to the desires of our instant gratification world. Our whole society feels that everything needs to revolve around our wants. It is not even to have our needs taken care of. We also want every desire fulfilled without working for it.
When it comes to religion, many want religion to suit their needs. Most churches that I have observed no longer preach against sin. Sermons have been shortened and pastors have been told to keep their messages brief. In fact, more churches prefer to have more music with modern lyrics reflecting a new age of Christianity. This new age is all about feeling good rather than doing good. Instead of being obedient, many are being taught to just be themselves and everything will just work out for them.
These teachers of this new age religion push their own ideas that are either not based on Scripture or loosely based on the Word. They sometimes twist the words and give them new meanings or are often taken completely out of context. In fact, most members of their congregation don’t bring Bibles with them to church. God’s Word is merely a backdrop to the rest of the service. It is just there to add some atmosphere.
Over a period of time, you will see more and more of this sort of religion popping up around you. Older churches will start to close and be put up for sale for their property value. In time, these wonderful churches with huge stained-glass windows will become relics of the past. That “old time religion” will begin to fade away as the new age religion becomes more acceptable.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We, as Christians, must preach the Word of God as God intended and not water it down for consumption. We must provide those who walk in darkness spiritual food that will nurture them and allow them to grow spiritually.
Peter, in chapter two of his first epistle, writes, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”
It is this that we all crave. The spiritual milk that helps all of us grow in our faith and allows us to fully experience God’s salvation. It is not enough for us to simply mouth these words or change them in some way. Salvation comes directly from the Lord and cannot be offered by anyone else or through any other means.
In chapter four of the Book of Acts, the author records the words of Peter as he spoke to the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Salvation starts with a very simple act of realizing that Jesus is the only way back to the Father. We cannot simply choose a path and believe that it will provide us with salvation. There is only one path back to the Father and it starts by accepting Christ Jesus as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life. It is not left up to interpretation or the words of those who water down the Gospel or preach their own gospel. We cannot craft our own religion and faith that suits our own needs. Salvation can only come through Jesus. None of this is a secret or requires that you have a PhD in Biblical Studies.
Jesus, in chapter fourteen of the Gospel of John, tells his disciples as well as us this important truth, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, our relationship with God is renewed. Jesus provides the way back to the Father and through Jesus, we are able to know Him. This is the only way and it cannot be changed, amended or twisted for convenience or personal desire. It is an immutable truth that cannot be challenged.
If you are feeling empty, alone or there is a hole in your life, I implore you to take a minute to reflect on these words and allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart. Listen to that little voice that is telling you that you need Jesus in your life and that what the world has to offer is fake and will not provide that spiritual milk you need. Many will say that they know the way or will point you in the wrong direction. I am here today to tell you about the one way back to God and that way is through His son, Jesus.
Don’t be fooled by the words of men. Those words are empty and can only lead you astray. Listen to the voice of the Master. He is calling you today. All it takes is that first step and when you take it, you will be able to stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 18:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.
3 John 4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Romans 15:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 7:12-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone does not repent,
God will sharpen His sword;
He has strung His bow and made it ready.
He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He tips His arrows with fire.
Proverbs 18:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
James 1:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Nehemiah 1:8-9 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.”
Psalm 7:9-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The One who examines the thoughts and emotions
is a righteous God.
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows His wrath every day.
Proverbs 18:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.
Matthew 11:28-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Philemon 4-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Psalm 7:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Rise up, Lord, in Your anger;
lift Yourself up against the fury of my adversaries;
awake for me;
You have ordained a judgment.
Let the assembly of peoples gather around You;
take Your seat on high over it.
The Lord judges the peoples;
vindicate me, Lord,
according to my righteousness and my integrity.
Proverbs 18:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are protected.
1 Timothy 6:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Fight the good fight for the faith;
take hold of eternal life
that you were called to
and have made a good confession about
in the presence of many witnesses.
Philippians 2:1-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm 7:3-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yahweh my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands,
if I have done harm to one at peace with me
or have plundered my adversary without cause,
may an enemy pursue and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Each year after Christmas I urge my readers to leave something out that will be a reminder of the miracle of Christ's birth all year long. Although that time of year is set aside to celebrate His coming, the fact that He left Heaven to be with us on earth is something that should never be shoved into a box and stored in an attic.
Likewise, Easter is when we praise Him for His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. But sadly, once the weekend has passed, we tend to return to the normality of our lives and store away whatever decorations we have used in order to prepare for the next holiday.
Unlike Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, Jesus is no fairy tale. The stories recorded for us in the Bible of His existence are real. He was with God before creation and is with Him now. Because of the time He spent on Earth, because of what He gave of Himself to accomplish the will of His Father, we have total forgiveness of our sins available to us if we choose to accept it. Once we believe in Him as the Son of God, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and repent of our sins we have the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven.
How it must grieve Him to be put out of our thoughts as easily as we store away snowmen, wreaths and candy filled eggs. After all that He went through for our sakes, even as He pleads for us before our Father, once our calendar-planned holidays end, too often so do our praises.
At any time, Jesus could have said no. He could have called legions of angels to wipe out those who tortured Him. Although fully human, He was also fully divine and the nails through His hands and feet held no control over Him. But He didn't say no. Philippians 2:8 tells us, "...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross." Even for Him, obedience was a choice and he made that choice out of His love for you and for me.
Our remembrance and our praise should be alive and active just as our Savior is alive and active in our lives. Our hearts, minds, souls and strength need to remain focused on Him at all times. All that we do, think and say should be influenced by His example as we allow Him to mold us to become more like Him.
Nothing happens in our lives that He is unaware of. He is always by our side, ready to take our hands and walk us through whatever conflicts, heartaches, fears or tragedies we encounter. He promised never to leave us and His promises can be believed. His death and resurrection didn't take away the hard times in life, but they did give us the assurance that we will never be alone and that death, sorrow, pain and sadness will cease when we join Him in Heaven.
His love and power cannot be boxed away. Grab His holy hand and walk with Him today. God bless.
Proverbs 18:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who is truly lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.
John 19:38-42 Holman Christian Standard Bible
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.
John 19:28-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible
After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Psalm 7:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.
Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me
or they will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
Proverbs 18:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.
John 17:20-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible
I pray not only for these,
but also for those who believe in Me
through their message.
May they all be one,
as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.
May they also be one in Us,
so the world may believe You sent Me.
I have given them the glory You have given Me.
May they be one as We are one.
I am in them and You are in Me.
May they be made completely one,
so the world may know You have sent Me
and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Father,
I desire those You have given Me
to be with Me where I am.
Then they will see My glory,
which You have given Me
because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
Righteous Father!
The world has not known You.
However, I have known You,
and these have known that You sent Me.
I made Your name known to them
and will make it known,
so the love You have loved Me with
may be in them and I may be in them.
John 14:1-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Way to the Father
14 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”
5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Psalm 6:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea for help;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
Proverbs 18:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.
John 13:31-35 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The New Command
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.
33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you.
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 15:21 Holman Christian Standard Bible
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.
Psalm 6:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 I am weary from my groaning;
with my tears I dampen my pillow
and drench my bed every night.
7 My eyes are swollen from grief;
they grow old because of all my enemies.
This all started with the fulfillment of a prophecy. A prophecy that was foretold a little over 700 years prior to the birth of this man, Jesus. His ministry to all people will start small in small towns and villages. For those in power, he was more of an annoyance and not taken very seriously. Jesus was just some man out in the wilderness preaching some sort of message. The religious leaders thought nothing of it, but there was still a nagging feeling of uneasiness.
As Jesus’ message began to spread and word of his miracles were on the lips of more and more individuals, it was clear that his message would soon cause the religious leaders to become more and more uneasy. They would see him as a threat to the established order and they had to stop him. As they tried to silence his words, his popularity grew and they were unknowingly fulfilling the prophecies given by Isaiah.
In the fifty-third chapter of his book, Isaiah writes this about Jesus, “Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”
The man of sorrow would become despised by those who sought to destroy him. He would be rejected by those around him and even one of his own disciples, Peter, would deny him three times. Jesus knew that the world would soon reject him. His disciples hid after he was crucified. They, like the others, found themselves wondering about Jesus and what he had told them. He told them that this would happen and that he would return. But, when they saw him die on that cross, they believed that it was done.
But on that glorious first Easter Sunday, three women went to the tomb to anoint his body and do those things that were required to take care of the dead.
In the Gospel bearing his name, Mark, in chapter sixteen writes, “Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.”
The women were going to the tomb to carry out the last remaining tasks of burying an individual. According to Jewish law, the body of the deceased is to be washed thoroughly. This process is called the “tohorah”. The body is to be wrapped with a clean shroud called a “tachrichim” and anointed with oils and aromatic herbs such as olive, laurel, palm and cypress to help fight the effects of the rapid decomposition that occurred in the Mediterranean heat. This ritual was done out of love for the deceased.
But, those women who came to do these things for the dead soon found that Jesus wasn’t there. He had risen from the dead just as he told his disciples.
Mark, in his Gospel, writes, “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, ‘Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.’”
They had fully accepted in their minds that they would carry out the last ritual for the body of Jesus. This is what we have all come to expect. A person is born, lives and then dies. However, things completely changed for all of us. Jesus conquered death once and for all and broke the bonds that held us to this corrupt, fallen world.
The prophet Daniel, in the ninth chapter of his book, wrote, “A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.”
Daniel tells us exactly what Jesus did for each of us. He put an end to our sins and became the atonement sacrifice for each of us. It is through him that we have received everlasting righteousness. Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection, gave us the gift of salvation that his Father graciously extended to us.
Paul, in the fifteenth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, writes, “For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Because of that empty tomb, we all have the promise of everlasting life. Jesus has given us that victory over sin and death. The gift of salvation is ours to receive and is given freely to us. When you consider the debt of sin that you have added to your ledger, there is no way to repay it. You didn’t deserve that gift of salvation, but God, as your Father, showed His love for you and offered everlasting life with Him.
Once we receive that gift into our hearts, we know that we have a mansion in Heaven and a place at the table with all our friends and loved ones who have gone on before us. One day, we will all be together where no death, pain or suffering exists.
John, in the twenty-first chapter of the Book of Revelation, writes, “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’”
So, as you enjoy this Easter Sunday, please think about the meaning of Easter and what God, through His son, Jesus, has done for you. Share the story of Jesus’ resurrection and its impact on your life. When you share the story, you are sharing a story with the happiest of all endings.
By taking just a moment to tell others about Jesus, you are fulfilling his commandment to share his message of love, hope, peace and salvation. Live to share the message and stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 18:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.
1 Peter 1:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Living Hope
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
Exodus 14:13-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.”
Psalm 6:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 Turn, Lord! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.
5 For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?
Proverbs 18:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 It is not good to show partiality to the guilty
by perverting the justice due the innocent.
Mark 11:22-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible
22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for—believe that you have received them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. [26 But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.]”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Psalm 6:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 6
A Prayer for Mercy
For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Davidic psalm.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking;
3 my whole being is shaken with terror.
And You, Lord—how long?
In chapter five of his letter to the Romans, Paul writes, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
There are a couple of truly clear truths that Paul shares with us. The first is that we are helpless when it comes to our debt of sin. There was no possible way for any of us to repay our debt of sin. There weren’t enough sacrificial animals for us to offer up as our atonement for our sins. Jesus came at the right time to redeem us and give us salvation. This gift was undeserved. All walked in darkness and in sin. But, God, in His infinite mercy, sent His son to die for us and to be our once for all time sacrifice. There is no possible way for any of us to understand or fathom the boundless love of God. God sent His son to die for our sins out of love for us.
The next important truth is that it is only Jesus’ blood that can make us right with God. We have no ability to save ourselves from utter damnation. It is only through Jesus that we are able to find our way to the Father. Jesus bridges the divide that separated us from God. It is only through him that we are able to find our way back to God and have a relationship with Him.
All of this came by the way of one act. Jesus had to die for us in order for the wages of sin to be repaid. Jesus willingly chose to endure intense suffering and death upon the cross for us. While on the cross, he was mocked by those who, just days before, welcomed him and celebrated his coming to Jerusalem.
In chapter two of his letter to the Philippians, Paul eloquently sums up why Jesus died for us, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus willingly gave up his position of privilege and power to come to earth and live among sinners. It is because of that selfless act that we are able to have a relationship with the Father. Jesus endured the death that was reserved for the most heinous of criminals. But, before that, he went through a farce of a trial and was beaten without mercy. Later, he would have to carry his own instrument of death by himself while many spat upon him and jeered.
There is no conceivable way for us to understand or truly comprehend the love that Jesus had for us when he lifted his cross upon his shoulders and began to walk the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering.
According to Christian tradition, the Via Dolorosa represents the path that Jesus would have taken, forced by the Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion. It is about 2,000 feet or 600 meters in distance. Jesus, after being beaten, walked each step of that distance carrying a cross, his cross, that weighed between 165 to 220 pounds or almost seventy-five kilograms to almost 100 kilograms.
I would like to think that with each step on his way to Golgotha, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus said the names of each and every person from the beginning of time to the end and said, “I love you.”
As I write this message, my heart is filled with sorrow and also with love. I not only love Jesus for what he did on that day but also for the love that he has shown me and continues to show me. Jesus just doesn’t love me; he also loves you.
I want you to think about what Jesus was willing to endure on your behalf. He took on the sins of the entire world, yours included to show us just how much God loved us. As you do, you also need to reflect on your life. Have you lived a life that has been Christ-like? Have you been obedient to God’s will?
If you haven’t, then today is the perfect time for you to have that little talk with Jesus and ask him to come into your life. Once you open that door in your heart and soul and allow him to be the master of your life, you will feel the weight of sin lifted off your shoulders.
Jesus, in chapter eleven of the Gospel of Matthew, said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
When you lay down your baggage of sin and take up the yoke of Jesus, your life will truly be changed and you will be able to stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 18:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters,
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.
Luke 6:39-40 Holman Christian Standard Bible
39 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
Psalm 5:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.
12 For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.
Proverbs 18:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also does,
and along with dishonor, disgrace.
John 15:5-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
John 9:35-41 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Blind Man’s Sight and the Pharisees’ Blindness
35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” he asked.
37 Jesus answered, “You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.”
38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped Him.
39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”
41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’—your sin remains.
Psalm 5:9-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.
"Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away." John 19:16 (NLT)
Arrested in the garden. Mocked and taunted as an imposter. Slapped and slugged. Spat upon. Blindfolded. Flogged with a whip made with pieces of lead and stone. Forced to carry His own cross upon raw shoulders. Bloody. Swollen. Unrecognizable. A crown of thorns driven into His scalp. Nails driven through His hands and feet. Raised to die upon a cruel cross. His clothing gambled over. A spear driven into His side.
His response? "Please forgive them for they know not what they do."
After a celebrated entry into Jerusalem just days before, our Lord cried out for the forgiveness of those who had tortured and were killing Him. As He hung there, suffocating and enduring the pain of His weight pulling Him down, the spikes in His hands and feet ripping through His flesh, His request of His Father was for forgiveness.
We know the story of the crucifixion. Most of us have heard it since we were young. But do we truly understand the agony Jesus withstood for our sakes? Because of OUR sin, not His, He was punished in ways that we cannot fathom. There had to be a sacrifice. A perfect Lamb. Every strike was ours. Every taunt, every lash with the whip, every drop of spit on His bleeding body was for us. So great is His love for you and me that He was willing to take our punishment upon Himself so that we could be reunited with our Creator and have the promise of eternity with Him.
But the story does not end with His death. He did as He promised and rose again. Luke 24 tells us, "But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. The men asked, 'Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead!'"
As we go through the rest of this Holy week, my prayer is that each of us will spend time alone with the Lord seeking understanding of the depth of His love and all He endured so that all we have to do to be saved is to repent and believe in Him. As Jesus stands defending us before the Father, may we strive to build a deeper relationship with Him.
May His mercy and grace surround us all. God bless.
Proverbs 18:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.
Jeremiah 17:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 The man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.
Colossians 1:15-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Centrality of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For everything was created by Him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all His fullness dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace
through the blood of His cross—
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Psalm 5:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.
8 Lord, lead me in Your righteousness
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.
Proverbs 18:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.
John 8:34-38 Holman Christian Standard Bible
34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because My word is not welcome among you. 38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; therefore, you do what you have heard from your father.”
