Posts with the tag “the-cross”

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5There is a somber weight to Good Friday, a stillness that settles even for those who don’t often mark holy days. All around the globe, believers pause—some gathered in candlelit sanctuaries, others simply at their kitchen tab...  Read More

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” – Luke 23:42This statement by the second criminal in today’s key verse may be one of the most remarkable statements of faith in all of Scripture. Hanging on a cross, gasping for breath, staring at his own death, he turns to Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Do not rush past that sentence.Jesus di...  Read More

Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. – Luke 23:32-33Crucifixion was never meant to be hidden. The Romans intentionally carried out executions in public places so that as many people as possible would see them. These were not quiet de...  Read More

There was also an inscription above him: This is the King of the Jews. – Luke 23:38Crucifixion was not accidental. It was intentional humiliation. Romans chose public places near major roadways so everyone could see what happened to those who challenged their authority. The goal was fear. Obedience through terror.Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, outside the city walls of Je...  Read More

Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. – Luke 23:32-33In 2009, a man named James Washington was nearing the end of a 15-year prison sentence when he suffered a massive heart attack behind bars. Lying on what he believed was his deathbe...  Read More

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" – Matthew 5:43-44 Abraham Lincoln was once criticized during the Civil War for being too kind to his enemies. One advisor told him, “Mr. President, you should destroy your enemies.” Lincoln paused and then replied, “Do I not destroy my enem...  Read More

“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. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” - Colossians 1:18-20 Every church bu...  Read More

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 The greatest kind of love is not based on feelings, attraction, or even family ties. The greatest love is agape, the love that God has for you. It is selfless, unwavering, and never dependent on what you do or do not do. It is love that gives ...  Read More

"But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 The world treats love like a business deal. If I give to you, then you should give back to me. If I do something kind, I expect something in return. If I invest my time, energy, or emotions, there should be a return on that investment. Love becomes conditional, based on performance and recipr...  Read More

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.’”- Isaiah 48:17    One of the most incredible things about Jesus as the Good Shepherd is how He guides you. God isn’t distant or uncaring. He’s actively involved in leading you through life. Isaiah 48:17 reminds us that God teaches you for your ben...  Read More

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11   When you think of the word “good,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a movie you enjoyed or a meal you found satisfying. We use the word a lot in our everyday language, "good" often means something that’s okay, pleasant, or just acceptable. But when Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd,” He means something ...  Read More

“The one who conquers will be clothed the same way, in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.” - Revelation 3:5    Imagine walking through life knowing you are completely clean and pure. This is the first part of Jesus’ promise to those who are faithful: You will walk with Him in white garments becaus...  Read More

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20  To live “in Christ,” we must die to self. This concept, though challenging, is central to our faith. Paul captures this profound truth in Galatians 2:20, where he declares that he has been cruci...  Read More

"Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:28-30  I...  Read More

"About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')." - Matthew 27:46   In the midst of His crucifixion, Jesus uttered a cry of anguish that resonates with the depths of human suffering. His words, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" reveal not only the intense physical pain He was experienc...  Read More

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5   Reflecting on the portrayal of the crucifixion, it's easy to recognize how our modern depictions often fall short of capturing the true horror and brutality of the cross. We may have grown up witnessing Passion Plays, wher...  Read More

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19  In the grand scheme of eternity, two diverging roads stretch before us—one leading to destruction, the other to life. The weight of this choice reverberates through time, as many find themselves unkn...  Read More

It's no longer you who live, but Christ in you. Discover the freedom of a life fully surrendered to Him.  Read More

God proved His love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Discover what He died for — you.  Read More

Three words changed history: 'It is finished.' Discover the full weight of what Jesus completed on the cross.  Read More

On the cross, Jesus felt forsaken so we never have to be. Discover the depth of what He endured for you.  Read More

At the cross, Jesus bore our shame. Discover how His humiliation became the doorway to our redemption.  Read More

Jesus endured the cross so we might live for Him. Discover a love willing to bear excruciating pain for you.  Read More

The cross was public shame — and public triumph. Discover why Jesus embraced the scorn to save us.  Read More

He carried our sins in His body on the tree. Discover the power of the old rugged cross to heal and forgive.  Read More

In His hardest hour, Jesus surrendered to the Father's will. Discover the freedom of praying, 'Your will be done.'  Read More

In Gethsemane, Jesus was crushed under the weight of what was coming. Discover the love that carried Him to the cross.  Read More

Jesus knew the agony ahead and went anyway. Discover the resolve of a Savior who faced the cross for you.  Read More

Forget the capes — the real hero bore our sins on a tree. Discover the rescue only Jesus could accomplish.  Read More

Jesus came to do the Father's will, not His own. Discover the surrender that says, 'Not mine, but Yours.'  Read More

In the garden, Jesus faced the cup and found no other way. Discover the obedience that opened the way to us.  Read More