“God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.” —Acts 2:23 (NLT) Jesus of Nazareth had a magnificent obsession: the cross. He was consumed by a compelling sense of divine providence, and each […]
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Our Substitute
“Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” —Matthew 27:21–22 (NLT) Although he never appears on center stage, Barabbas played a major role. Having been convicted and […]
Read MoreThe Paradox
So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. —John 18:12 (NLT) Jesus’ first three trials were religious in nature. The accusation was blasphemy, which was an offense that was admissible only in a Jewish court of law. So when Jesus stood before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin […]
Read MoreTragedy or Triumph?
They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” —Mark 15:1–2 (NLT) Most Christians have never made a serious study of what transpired immediately before Jesus’ crucifixion. We tend to jump from Gethsemane to […]
Read MoreDenials
“Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” —Mark 14:30–31 (NLT) I’ve often said that Peter suffered from “foot-in-mouth” disease. He was given to boasting and overstatement because […]
Read MoreWatch and Pray
“Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” —Mark 14:37–38 (NLT) Jesus didn’t just bow once for a brief prayer in the garden and then go out to […]
Read MoreAnguish in the Garden
Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” —Mark 14:27–28 (NLT) Judging from the ancient olive grove that can […]
Read MoreFeast of Remembrance
Passover was approaching. The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. —Luke 22:1–2 (NLT) On His last night with His disciples, Jesus celebrated the Passover as devout Jews had been doing for centuries. Appropriately, He used that feast of remembrance to […]
Read MoreA Tender Shoot
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. —Isaiah 53:2 (NLT) What did Christ look like to the men, women, and children who met Him? To be completely honest, […]
Read MoreThe Kindness of God
“MY TREAT!”. Nice words to hear, huh? They have flowed into my ears from any number of places—yours, too. Treats are neat. Spontaneous. Unexpected. Pleasant moments that communicate: “You are special . . . loved, appreciated, affirmed, deserving,” and a half a dozen other warm fuzzies we need to hear but seldom hand out. Normally, they don’t come on holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries, but rather during the run-of-the-mill, no-big-deal times in our lives.
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