THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the “Rock,” was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become
LOVE THAT WOULD DIE IN YOUR PLACE David’s grief at news of his son’s death is perhaps the most vivid expression of mourning in the Bible. He was “deeply moved” when he heard the news. The Hebrew word here refers to a “violent trembling” of the body. David was wracked with grief. His weeping could
CHRIST’S THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS Reading the four gospels together, there are seven last words of Jesus recorded. Anyone’s last words are considered important, so shouldn’t our Lord Jesus’ words be even more so? This is the third of Jesus’ last words from the cross. It is a word of care for his mother
JESUS BORE GOD’S WRATH THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE HIS MERCY When David was betrayed by his son, Absalom, he fled from Jerusalem going East up the slope of the Mount of Olives. As he climbed the Mount, he wept and prayed that God would have mercy on him. God heard David’s prayer and ultimately restored
DID JESUS GIVE MALCHUS EARS TO HEAR? All of the gospels tell the story of the high priest’s servant losing an ear to one of the disciple’s swords. Yet, only John names names. We are not surprised to learn that the sword belonged to Simon Peter, but we are somewhat amazed to learn the name
CHRIST’S JOY COMPLETED IN US What is this joy that resides in Christ? Isn’t it the continual, irrepressible joy that He shares in fellowship with the Father? As Jesus prayed in anticipation for His return to the Father, He prayed that we might become one in this same fellowship. And by being one in fellowship
YOU CAN HAVE PEACE AMIDST SUFFERING True peace is not found in a trouble-free place, but in a Person. This peace is not about the absence of trouble, but the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. For trials and sorrows are inevitable in this world, but Christ has overcome them all. So, true peace is found
ARE YOU ABIDING IN CHRIST? The abundant life begins with salvation, yet here in John 15, Jesus is speaking of the fruitful life that becomes evident as we continually remain in Him. We understand that our salvation is accomplished by Christ and by no effort of our own. Yet, after receiving this salvation, we often
BECAUSE HE LIVES Jesus encouraged His disciples with the promise of His resurrection life. For in His coming resurrection, He would provide for them both proof and pledge of their own resurrection and life. Because He lives we have proof that Christ is the Victor over sin, death and the grave. The tomb is
FOR WHOM DO YOU CELEBRATE? When David came leaping and dancing as he led the procession that brought the Ark into Jerusalem, his wife, Michal despised him for it. She spoke sarcastically to him as he arrived, saying, “How the king of Israel has honored himself today,” accusing him of acting “shamelessly” as one of