Thoughts From the Bible

  Read Luke 24:1- 12- T hese twelve verses tell us of the most impactful event in history. Verse s 4-7 tell us, '(4) And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. (5) Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here but is risen ! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee. (7) saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands o f sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." This moment lives through history. No other event in history has lasted as long and impacted so many people. Jesus said He would rise again and He did. I want to make sure I am quick to internalize the price Jesus paid for me but also, He rose from the dead to seal my salvation.   Proverbs 17:21 - He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

  Read Luke 23: 50- 56- Courage- J oseph of Arimathea was a courageous man. In verse 50 we read this, "(50) Now behold, there was a man named J oseph, a council member, a good and just man . I call Joseph courageous because he was a council member, a man of position and respect of the people. In spite of his position in the Jewish community , he took Jesus' body and used his own tomb to bury Jesus. After the Jewish leaders had worked to kill Jesus, Joseph asked to be benevolent to Jesus. He had openly dis agreed with what the Jewish leaders were doing yet, he showed compassion to Jesus. Would I have stood up and asked to show compassion to Jesus? I would certainly hope so, but the pressure of the time was significant. We may be faced with a time when we must say "Yes" when asked about our belief in Jesus. We will give a strong and confident, even loud, "yes" or will it be timid? We need to be like Joseph and step up and show compassion when those times c...

  Luke 23: 44- 49- In this passage we God mourning the death of His Son. God also wanted everyone to see the importance of this situation. '(44) Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness overall the earth until the ninth hour. (45) Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in t wo. (46) And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father into your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last.' Even in God's mourning, having seen all Jesus went through, He gave all of us a moment of freedom. When the veil in the temple was torn, it showed we now had a direct path to God. People no longer had a series of actions that were required to approach God. This is a picture of God's love for us in that while He watched the suffering of Jesus, He still loved us. We need to find ways to share this love.   P roverbs 17:19- He who loves tra nsgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks d...

  Read Luke 23: 39-43- Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One wanted to be saved from his fate; one wanted to be saved. He b elieved in Jesus. Verse 42 and 43 says, "Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." We know Jesus came into this world to be the sacrifice for our sins. What happened to Jesus on the way to the cross and on the cross was horrible. It was part of God's plan for Jesus and for us. We may not fully understand why certain things happen to us in this life. We may think we deserve better. We must see what happens in our lives and see ourselves as part of what God has planned for us. It is our responsibility to work with what God has allowed and then to make that a positive testimony of God in our lives. Sometimes it is easier said than done. That's why we pray.   Proverbs 17:18- A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge and...