As Good Friday nears, Iāve been thinking about some of the items associated with the weekend, and their significance. Ā Reflect with me on the crown of thorns, the hammer and nails, and the dice the soldiers rolled for the robe of Christ. The Crown of Thorns speaks of mockery. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn … Read More
Interviewer: Mary Magdalene was a committed follower of Christ. She was at the cross during his crucifixion, visited the tomb that first Sunday morning, and was the first to see Jesus upon the resurrection. Mary welcome. Your friendship with Jesus goes back to the beginning of his ministry. Can you tell me about it? Mary: I was a resident of … Read More
Pontius Pilate wasĀ the appointed governor over the southern portion of Israel during the time of Jesus. While declaring Jesus innocent 7 times, he still gave the release for his execution. If Larry King could have interviewed him a few years later, perhaps it would have sounded like this. Interviewer: My guest tonight is Pontius Pilateāthe governor of Judah during the … Read More
When the history of mankind is fully written, the most painful moment will be 6 hours one Friday on a hill outside Jerusalem. For there Godās punitive discipline fell its hardest on the one who had never committed a sin in word, deed, or thought. When we think of the cross, we often limit the scene to his physical suffering. … Read More
Jesus could not have been publicly crucified without a trial, but that didn’t mean that the trial would be fair or legal.Ā In fact, it was a great travesty of justice. Consider these ways both the Jews and Romans violated their own laws. The trial was at the wrong time (at night). The trial was in the wrong place (Caiaphasā home). … Read More
[wpvideo 7nPWXWT9] When most people think of the upper room they think of Leonardo Da Vinciās painting.Ā A long narrow table, with high-backedĀ chairs, and twelve Europeans at the table. But Da Vinci was about 1600 years late to the event. What was the upper room really like? Why were the disciples arguing? How could they could they not know Judas … Read More
There were six trials that Jesus endured prior to his crucifixion. Three of them were Jewish and three were Roman. Two of them involved the Jewish high priest, Caiphas. Perhaps if Caiphas could have told the story it might have sounded like this. It was harder than we thought it would be. Getting him to the point where Rome would … Read More
What does a king desire? Palm Sunday announces the triumphal entry of Jesus asĀ king into Jerusalem. 500 years earlier the prophet ZechariahĀ told of his coming. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the … Read More
