Why do we call this Good Friday? We can ask the same question of why when we consider the opening sentence of Bruce Shelley’s book on church history: “Christianity is the only major religion to have as its central event the humiliation of its God.” Surely, the crucifixion of God's only begotten Son was darkest …
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall …
Continue reading By Becoming a Curse for Us | Galatians 3:10-14
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by …
Continue reading Let Us Go to Him Outside the Camp | Hebrews 13:7-14
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you …
Continue reading We Are Not of Those Who Shrink Back | Hebrews 10:32-39
And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were …
And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away …
Continue reading Let the Scriptures Be Fulfilled | Mark 14:43-52
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and …
https://open.spotify.com/episode/25xfjKybtVUVsBWB8bbPBm?si=bYThenKRRLKruE4wHbOGKQ and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. Exodus 12:12 ESV We have already observed that the plagues of Egypt often targeted specific Egyptian gods. The prelude sign of the staff turning into a serpent displayed God’s superiority of the power of Pharaoh, which Pharaoh sought to …
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with …
Continue reading The Baptism & Temptation of Jesus | Mark 1:9-13
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 ESV Mark is an overlooked book. Consider the book’s companions. John and Matthew were both firsthand witnesses to Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel serves as a perfect bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament, while showing Jesus to be the promised …
B. C. Newton 