The seven last words of Jesus have been lauded in songs and art. But when we consider the first words of Jesus after the resurrection, we discover what this new reality and commission looks like for believers. Let’s take a look at seven of the first sayings of Jesus.  All of them are found in John 20. “Woman, why […]

It’s Sunday. And Jesus is with us! His obituary is in the paper and, for goodness sakes alive, He is sitting at our breakfast table! He is supposed to be behind a stone, flanked by Rome’s finest. Dead, dead, dead… But instead He’s hungry and wants fish this morning! And where has He been since […]

It’s Saturday. The tomb is sealed. The guards are in position. The sheep are scattered. The light is gone. There is nothing more than silence on the other end. These are the times when we look back and replay all our errors and missed opportunities. The words we should have said… The swords we should […]

It’s Thursday evening. Darkness falls on a Middle Eastern city and a group of men gather around a table. Some men want answers, others want power, others conceal their furtive motives and plans, and still others resign to die. Tonight is different. In the past, their times of feasting were filled with so much laughter […]

It’s Wednesday. Jesus remains in Bethany among friends. He is cloistered, away from the opinions of the multitude. There is peace in Bethany. (May we all have a Bethany.) This day is silent, until a worshipper enters carrying a year’s salary in the form of a rare and exquisite ointment ornately encased. The assembly watches […]

It’s Tuesday evening… Jesus returns to Bethany after a day of long and difficult conversations with friends and those who sought to destroy Him. He speaks of whitewashed tombs, of a darkened moon, of sudden separations, of a wedding and of a return. It’s all in there–prophetic signs, passionate pleas, stern rebukes and mysterious parables. […]

This season we observe one complete, enormous truth: Jesus sacrificed His life for us. As the Bride of Christ observes the practice of Lent and Holy Week, we find other collateral truths hidden in the text that carry us throughout our lives. Here are 25 truths we can celebrate and remember through the coming days. Our […]

On the night of His betrayal, we enter a room of remembrance. The age-old ceremonial question from the Pesach Haggadah-“Why is this night different from all other nights?” would never be as relevent as it is tonight. We see Jesus as host and caregiver. He would feed. He would gather. He would reassure. and he would […]

Tucked behind the glorious parting of the Red Sea, there’s a Jesus story. After the exultation of seeing the waters of the Red Sea part, the newly freed nation ran into other issues. A lot of people.  No water. Isn’t that the way troubles come? As soon as one crisis is averted, another new set of […]

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 The two thieves represent two choices. One thief demands proof. The other pleads for hope. One looks to escape and the other looks to eternity. These choices stand as constant reminders that the cross of Christ demands a response. Hope is […]