The longer I walk with Christ, the more I not only love Him, but the more I love the cross. I love to read the crucifixion story. It moves me every time. I love to read about the cross — I have at least a couple dozen books that deal with the singular topic of […]
Read More Christ, the cross, and joyToday’s Scripture reading includes Dt. 32:35 — Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ It is this verse that served as the text for Jonathan Edwards’ well-known sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an […]
Read More In due time their foot will slipOver the years, I have I heard others say this, and I have said it too: “Jesus didn’t have to die.” That is a partially true statement, in that Christ was fully blameless, innocent, and untainted by sin. It was “right” for Him not to die. Yet that obscures part of the message of Scripture. […]
Read More The necessity of a rejected ChristSeveral times the Scriptures point to the silence of Christ during His trial. The prophet Isaiah said it would be this way: “Like a lamb that is lead to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth” (53:7). It was indeed that way, as Matthew […]
Read More He did not answerOne of the things I have done intermittently for many years is to read chronologically through the events of the Passion week. The goal is to contemplate and meditate on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and anticipate the celebratory worship of Easter morning. One way you can do that is to purchase a Harmony […]
Read More The Easter storyIt is tempting to look at the crucifixion of Christ simply as the result of the unchecked sin of unredeemed men and the unbelief of the nation of Israel. Considering only the responses of the crowds can lead one to think, “well, if they had believed, then this would never have happened — Christ would […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (3/28/10)There is a clear, unmistakable, and critical link between Christmas and Good Friday (Christ’s death). Celebrate Christmas without meditating on the cross, and you will have a Christmas devoid of meaning — all pretty paper, bows, lights, and tinsel, without any real treasure and joy. Christmas without the cross is a meal without the food, […]
Read More Christmas Eve and Good FridayJ. N. D. Anderson: Jesus Christ: the Witness of History: All the references to the empty tomb come in the Gospels, which were written for Christians who wanted to know the facts. In the public preaching, to those who were not yet convinced, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, there was an insistent […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Resurrection (Anderson)John Piper, The Passion of Jesus Christ: We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ.
Read More Today’s Quote – Cross (Piper)The New Testament writers almost deal with the crucifixion of Christ itself as an afterthought. The details surrounding the crucifixion are explicit and lengthy; the details about the crucifixion itself are sparse: Matt. 27:35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. Mark 15:25 It was the […]
Read More The crucifixionC. J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life: I identify most with the angry mob screaming, “Crucify Him!” That’s who we should all identify with. Because apart from God’s grace, this is where we would all be standing, and we’re only flattering ourselves to think otherwise. Unless you see yourself standing there with the shrieking […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Good Friday (Mahaney)We do not know what Mary said at the cross. But we do know that she was there. And we do know other truths that had been spoken about Christ in the Old Testament, at His birth (anticipating His redeeming work) and during His life. One writer has compiled a number of these statements and […]
Read More What Mary might have said at the crossMany years ago I was counseling a woman whose husband was adamantly opposed to the gospel. One item in particular bothered him — Easter, he said, was nothing more than the Christianization of a pagan celebration. So he himself did not recognize the remembrance and forbade his wife and family from recognizing it as well. […]
Read More Easter and pagan deitiesAs today is Ash Wednesday, this is a common question — “what are you giving up for Lent?” I’ve heard a variety of answers — from the sublime to the ridiculous (but mostly ridiculous) — cole slaw, eye-liner, premarital sex with a fiancé, running yellow lights among them. Even giving up Lent. Hmmm. I am […]
Read More What are you giving up for Lent?A simple thing to do to prepare your mind and heart for worship during the Passion week is to read the gospel accounts of the story on a daily basis. Event by event, word by word, confrontation by confrontation, day by day, you will be presented with the essential character and purpose of Christ. The […]
Read More Preparing for Passion Week Worship
Words of Grace 