John 19:17-42 – Dead and Buried

Read John 19:17-42

There are so many key individuals involved in Jesus’ death and burial. In addition to Pilate and the leading priests who squabbled over the charges, there were the soldiers, Jesus’ faithful women followers, the disciple Jesus loved, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus. Each one was used by God to play a role in how Jesus’ mission on earth ended.

It’s also amazing to see how Jesus, in his agony after being beaten and carrying his own heavy cross, was still fulfilling prophecy to the bitter end. He also connected his mother with his dear disciple, establishing a means of care for her. In his final moments, Jesus was still caring for his loved ones. Continue reading “John 19:17-42 – Dead and Buried”

John 3:1-21 – How God Loves Us

Read John 3:1-21

Our next theme, “Salvation, Forgiveness, and New Life,” is off to a fantastic start with these verses from John’s gospel. We’ll be seeking a greater understanding of what these mean according to our faith. Just like Nicodemus, we seek truth, and he went right to the source, Jesus. Seeking Jesus would not have been a popular choice for someone in his position, so he had to hide in the darkness of night.

Can you imagine having an audience with Jesus himself! What questions would you ask him? As a religious leader, Nicodemus would have had some “deep” faith questions. I just love that he felt moved to approach Jesus with an openness to learn. We can glean a lot from his example. Continue reading “John 3:1-21 – How God Loves Us”

Luke 22:63-23:55 – Guilty or Not Guilty?

Read Luke 22:63-23:55

Reading about Jesus’ final hours can be an emotional encounter, especially when we put ourselves in the scene. We’ve been walking with Jesus to the cross, and today we arrive. Seeing it dramatized is also a very powerful way to remember. I’ll never forget the car ride home in silence after our family watched Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” when it first came out in theatres.

Sometimes we want to rush ahead to what happens next, but the first disciples didn’t know this was only the beginning of the miracle of all miracles. Let’s stay where we are in this moment, seeing our Savior’s sacrifice of love.

Continue reading “Luke 22:63-23:55 – Guilty or Not Guilty?”
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