Darkness, earthquakes and temple veils ripped as Jesus breathed his last. What did it all mean? Mary wondered as she followed Joseph to the tomb and saw her Lord’s body laid to rest. The day’s events played continually in her mind as she prepared spices and perfumes with the other women that night. And all …
Tag: Jesus
The Silent Darkness
To think it all began with a kiss. The stunning news of Judas’ betrayal was swiftly followed by that of Peter’s denial. Still reeling from shock, Mary clung to hope that the Sanhedrin would restore order and sanity. But it was not to be. The shameful trial held under the cover of darkness ended with …
Light of the World
The US Federal Reserve offers an online currency education program whereby the public can study the security features of various dollar bills. Driving this is the idea that the best way to spot counterfeit notes is to be intimately familiar with authentic notes. The better acquainted one is with originals, the less chance there is …
The Heart of the Matter
I love the Old Testament. In it, the Red Sea parted (Exodus 14), walls came tumbling down (Joshua 5-6), the Sun and Moon stood still (Joshua 10) and a giant was slain (1 Samuel 17). Still in its pages, we see fire falling from heaven (1 Kings 18) and men saved from a burning furnace …
***Devotional – The Noise of the Storm***
Read: Mark 4:35-41 “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” The disciples stared incredulously at their slumbering Rabbi. How could He rest so peacefully in the midst of this great windstorm? The pounding waves flung water in the boat, and it was all they could do to hang on for dear life. When …
**Devotional – John’s Struggle**
Read: Luke 7:18-28 “Doesn’t he know I’m here?” John wondered. “Does he even care?” He’d tried calming the growing anxiety in his followers’ faces. Yet he too was running out of excuses. The unspoken question remained unanswered: why wouldn’t his famous cousin save him? Reports spread of Jesus’ miraculous works throughout the region. But …
God of New Beginnings: “The Ultimate Reset”
I recently listened to a sermon where the preacher relived his memories of playing video games as a boy. Whenever a game wasn’t going someone’s way, he said, all they had to do was dive for the reset button. And just like that, the playing field was even again. Wouldn’t it be great if life …
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God of New Beginnings: “A People Reborn”
In a stunning fulfillment of prophecy declared 150 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28), King Cyrus of Persia proclaimed that God’ people (now broadly known as Jews) should return to their homeland and rebuild God’s temple (Ezra 1:1-4). So up went the tribal leaders, priests and Levites who felt God’s urging to execute …
