“He is Risen!” Three simple words. Eternal in consequence. Don’t we say them every Easter? It’s a King James thing, and it’s how most of us recite the greeting. Theologically and technically, I wonder if “He has risen” might be a bit closer to the truth. Luke 24:1 On the first day of the week, […]
The stone which had been rolled in front of the tomb remained as if frozen in time. Jesus was dead. He’d even said, “It is finished.” The grave was silent and seemingly satisfied. There is no “More to the Easter Story” for Jesus to tell because He’s dead. He’s buried. This stark reality of death […]
Jesus set down His cup and His betrayer left. The remaining disciples tried to move beyond the awkwardness by singing a hymn with Jesus, and then they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is […]
All signs pointed to the end of His earthly ministry. So, serving others was top of Jesus’ mind as He did the unthinkable and washed His disciples’ feet in preparation to observe the Passover. They didn’t quite know how to react to that. In one sense, honored, even loved, but also vastly uncomfortable, even shocked, […]
The Twelve had come to accept that Jesus was not in a hurry to overthrow the Romans even if maybe one of the Twelve was not committed to stay the course in the way of the other Eleven. Perhaps it was Judas’ impatience. Maybe his heart had long been elsewhere. Who knows when a […]
Time was running short. Only a few days left before His earthly ministry would be completed. What was good news for some would be very bad news for others. Either Jesus would be the rock-solid foundation of their salvation or He’d be the stone the builders reject and eventually—after all their chances to repent were […]
The end of My mission is very near, thought Jesus. And it was such a shame that those to whom He’d been sent didn’t recognize the time of God’s coming to them. They would be missing out on so much peace to be had, if only they accepted His teaching instead of rejecting Him. It […]
Luke 19:32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put […]
The disciples were understandably nervous. It was both a nervous fear and a nervous excitement. They could see Jerusalem in the distance. This was really happening! Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of […]
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through on His way to Jerusalem. When He saw a wealthy tax-collector named Zacchaeus who’d climbed a tree to see His arrival, He said, “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus welcomed him gladly. It was a welcome that brought joy to Jesus’ heart and […]
