When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27 NIV) A dying person's final words are often about ensuring thatContinue reading "Last Words"
A Friend for Life
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13 NIV) We often expect our friends to stick by us, especially when times are tough. However, it's during our most difficult moments that we discover who our true friends are. Jesus certainly did. When the time came forContinue reading "A Friend for Life"
Roll With It
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples mayContinue reading "Roll With It"
A Round Trip
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. (John 17:11 NIV) Jesus lived His time on earth knowing that it was a round trip, one that would cost Him dearly. He would soon return to Heaven, where He had come from (John 3:13).Continue reading "A Round Trip"
The Borrowed Tomb
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he hadContinue reading "The Borrowed Tomb"
Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life
Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV) Prior to resurrecting Lazarus from the dead, Jesus told his grieving sister, Martha, that HeContinue reading "Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life"
Always a Finisher
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave upContinue reading "Always a Finisher"
A Witness Testimony
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "This man truly was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39 NLT) After witnessing the way Jesus died, it didn't take long for the Roman officer, a pagan, to realize that Jesus is truly the Son of God. He had neverContinue reading "A Witness Testimony"
Not Ready
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chiefContinue reading "Not Ready"
Hope for the Grieving Heart
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1Continue reading "Hope for the Grieving Heart"