In His Service

  For the Atonement of the World Jn. 19:16-27 The cross is eternally linked to Jesus and Christianity. It symbolizes not the shame of a criminal act, but the substitutionary atonement for the sins of all mankind. The cross was one of the capital punishments for criminals, and crucifixion was exacted immediately after sentencing in most cases. The four gospel accounts give us a complete mosaic of the crucifixion and will be used in this lesson to complete the context of the text. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “They had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross…“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).” (Matt. 27:31-33) Jesus had obeyed his Father by submitting to his will in the garden and in the trial, “ During the days of Jesus’ life on ea...

    Pilate’s Three-Peat John 18:38, 19:1-16 Pilate was not a righteous man, but he knew innocence when it crossed him as magistrate. In fact, one could commend him that he wasn’t hoodwinked by the malcontents, dissentients, and dissidents under his rule nor was he fooled by the spurious desires of the crowd, for three times he tried to free Jesus on “ no basis for a charge against him” and each time he was reproached with a uproar of violence bordering on the edge of a riot. He had gone through the arraignment prehearing and found Jesus innocent of criminal acts demanding death, but there wouldn’t be any charges dropped by the prosecution of the Sanhedrin. Now Pilate, acting in his power as magistrate, weighs the punishment for the case against Jesus. Through the custom of the scapegoat, Jesus was to be condemned. Let’s look at the first portion of the text. “With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge agai...

        “Please Excuse This Interruption.” Matt. 1:18-25, 2:13-15; Lk. 1:26-38, 2:4-7,8-20 In life you are going to have many interruptions. Some annoying, some disheartening, and others angering you, but there are those interruptions that are life altering from God and you shouldn't ignore, fear, or be infuriated at. Such interruptions are throughout God’s word. Here are a few examples: Noah was interrupted and told to build an ark in which to be saved. Mose’s life was interrupted by a fiery bush and he led the Israelite people out of bondage. God’s purpose and way for each of us will include interruptions that will change the world and our lives. Let’s read the Christmas story, “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to pu...