“Not My will…”

Last night as we read the account of Christ’s betrayal, crucifixion, and death at our Good Friday service, I was particularly struck by Christ’s willing submission to the will of the Father — a will that decreed that the Holy One take on sin and the attendant cup of God’s wrath. “My Father, if it […]

You can reject Christ

Paul tells Timothy to “remember Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:8). Specifically, Timothy is told to remember the resurrection of Christ and the Messianic fulfillment of Christ. In keeping with that command, this week is the great remembrance of Christ and His work. There is nothing that Jesus did or does that surpasses what was accomplished […]

He came in the name of the Lord

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and this morning’s Scripture reading (Mark 11) recalls the event of Christ’s ride into Jerusalem. There was much joy that day and declarations from the Psalms of Praise were sung as shouted as Jesus and the crowds processed into Jerusalem. One statements that was called out was, “Blessed is He […]

A week of conflict

One might think that the manner in which Christ entered Jerusalem (Mt. 21:1-11) set the tone for the week. He came being acclaimed and worshipped by the crowds. They sang Messianic songs and welcomed Him with joy. They even declared Him to be “the Prophet” (v. 11), a reference to Dt. 18:15 and an affirmation […]

Easter and the resurrection

Three statements about the resurrection: Easter is the New Year’s Day of the soul. [A. B. Simpson] The gospel…doesn’t explain Easter. Easter explains the gospel. Christ was God. The miracle wasn’t that Christ rose from the dead. It would have been even more unthinkable for the God/Man who was born as he was, and lived […]

Sunday Leftovers (4/24/11)

The resurrection means that Christ is alive, and those who believe in Christ also live (1 Cor. 15:12-20). The resurrection means that we can rejoice in what we have in Christ even when we suffer loss in the world (1 Peter 1:6-7). The resurrection means that when others would say, “curse God,” we can say, […]

That’s My King!

HT: Kevin DeYoung.

Good Friday – It is Finished

Tomorrow morning our family has what we think is a fairly moderate yard task ahead of us — we have about 450 sq. ft. of sod to lay and about fifty feet of shrubs to trim (the shrubs average 8-10 ft in height). It seems like a manageable task now; in the middle of it, […]

It’s Friday . . .

HT: Justin Taylor.

We cannot contemplate the cross too much

While preparing for tomorrow evening’s Good Friday service, I came across this gem: We cannot contemplate too often what the Saviour endured in order to secure our salvation. The better we are acquainted with His sufferings, and the more frequently we meditate thereon, the warmer will be our love and the deeper our gratitude. [A. […]

Passion Week timeline

The movement of Christ during the Passion Week is significant, because it reveals both His nature and His purpose. But, it can be difficult to sometimes follow the progression of events over the different days. Here is a chart that demonstrates not only what happened on each of the days, but also the people with […]

Books to read to prepare for Easter

I do at least two things to prepare my heart for Easter each year. First, I read through the accounts of the passion week at least once and often more than that. The simple recitation of the account of Christ’s death and resurrection is sobering and invigorating and always stimulates in me grateful worship. And […]

Book Review: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Title: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross Editor: Nancy Guthrie Publisher: Crossway, 2009; 152 pp. $12.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): It is a common temptation to think too superficially and too rarely about the cross and the gospel. The occasional evangelistic sermon, generally wrapped around a holiday celebration, along with an occasional communion remembrance is enough […]

Sunday Leftovers (4/4/10)

The work of God to redeem the sins of believers (what we call indwelling sin) — in the lives of people like Peter and his sinful denial of Christ — is a mark of great grace. And it is a reminder that God is not dependent on us; we are dependent on Him. He is […]

The cry from the cross

Two quotes to stimulate your thinking as you contemplate the crucifixion of Christ on this Good Friday morning and His cry from the cross — “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?’ that is, ‘MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?’” (Mt. 27:46; NASB) […]