On Easter weekend the thirteen young adults receiving baptism stood before hundreds and testified, nervously unfolding their individual stories to the masses. One after another—some shyly, others boldly, each stepped up to the microphone. Their accounts brought tears. All were …
Continue Reading →
Piercing your brow, a crown of thorns was embedded in your flesh, a cruel and mocking implement of torture. Sweat and blood dripped from your brow—no hand was free to wipe the salty rivulets from your eyes. Stinging. Burning. Sins of …
Continue Reading →
In the weeks before Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples squabbled over who would be the greatest in his kingdom—the kingdom they expected him to set up at that time, where he would rule as an earthly potentate. John and James’ mother …
Continue Reading →
“The Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought life to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:4-5 NLT). Satan got one hour. That was it. …
Continue Reading →
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV) Unblemished sacrificial lambs killed and eaten, meal participants clad for a journey, firstborns in peril of death, lamb’s blood smeared on doorposts and lintels, …
Continue Reading →
The melody of rain dripping off the eaves, pounding onto the roof, and running through the gutters is a welcome sound in March. I pause to gaze on its pouring—my favorite scents and sounds wash over me, pleasing the senses. …
Continue Reading →
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 ESV). It was the eternal plan. Jesus knew exactly what he …
Continue Reading →
In rapper fashion, my little granddaughter wears her oversized red ball cap backward, her tiny blue jeans sagging low on her hips as she toddles onto the front porch. I squat down to tell her good-bye—I’ll see her later. Unexpectedly, …
Continue Reading →
In concert with God the Spirit, our Savior spoke the universe into existence after the Godhead had formulated Plan A, the only plan. Though Romans, Jews, Passover, and crosses did not exist in the predawn of time, they would. Christ would lay his …
Continue Reading →
An hour before dawn, I wake in the dark. Terror and crankiness, my usual first emotions, rip at my soul. Already, before my eyes are even open, darkness is upon me. From my limited perspective, trapped in this jar of …
Continue Reading →