From Sunday to Sunday

Sunday: (Palm Sunday)

1.    ‘The Triumphal Entry’, in Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-11; Mk 11:1-10; Lk 19:29-44; Jn 12:12-19)

·         This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Mt 21:4-5)

Monday: 

1.    Jesus curses the fruitless fig tree, pronouncing immediate judgment. (Mt 21:19-22; Mk 11:12-14)

·         “…have faith and do not doubt…” (Mt 21:21)

2.    In the temple Jesus drives out the money changers and heals the blind and lame. (Mt 21:12-17; Mk 11:15-18)

·         But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. (Mt 21:15)

Tuesday:

1.    The authority of Jesus is questioned. (Mt 21:23-27; Mk 12:27-33; Lk 20:1-8)

·         Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question.  If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mt 21:24)

(Jesus continues to teach. Mt 21:28-45; 22-25; Mk 12-13; Lk 20:9-47; 21)

2.    Jesus is anointed by Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, in Bethany (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-9; Lk Jn 12:2-11)

·         Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.” (Mt 26:10)

Wednesday:

1.    Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus. (Mt 26:14—16; Mk 14:10-11; Lk 22:3-6)

·         ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ (Mt 26:15)

Thursday: (Passover observed)

1.    ‘The Last/Lord’s Supper’ (Mt 26:17-30; Mk 14:12-25; Lk 22:7-20: Jn 13:1-38)

·         “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Mt 26:29)

2.    Jesus comforts and encourages his disciples. (Jn 14-16:33)

·         “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:25-27)

3.    Jesus prays at on the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46; Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:40-46)

·         “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Mt 26:38)

           “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I     will, but as you will.” (v. 39)  

4.    Jesus is arrested. (Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-52; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:1-11)

·         “Friend, do what you came for.” (Mt 26:50)

5.    Jesus is brought to trial (before the Sanhedrin, then Pilate and Herod, form Thursday night to Friday morning). (Mt 26:57-68; 27:11-26; Mk 14:53-65; 15:1-15; Lk 22:66-23:25; Jn 18:19-24, 24-40)

·         “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.  “But I say to you:  In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mt 26:64)   

Friday: (Good Friday)

1.    Jesus is mocked and crucified, at Golgotha (Mt 27:27-44; Mk 15:16-32; Lk 23:26-43; Jn 19:17-27)

·         ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!  Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!’ (Mt 27:40)

2.    Jesus gives up his life and dies. (Mt 27:45-56; Mk 15:33-41; Lk 23:44-49; Jn 19:28-37)

·         “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Lk 23:46)

3.    Jesus is buried. (Mt 27:57-65; Mk 15:42-47: Lk 50-56; Jn 19:38-42)

·         Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of  the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Mt 27:59-60)

Sunday: (Easter)

1.    Jesus defeats death and is resurrected! (Mt 28:1-20: Mk 16:1-20: Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-31)

·         ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!’ (Mk 16:6)

Grace, Pt.1

First of all, my apologies to anyone who may’ve missed my Friday post.  I wasn’t even able to think straight because I was suffering from a viral infection complete with fever, headache, body aches, and loss of appetite (and if you know me, you know it’s serious then).  But I’m -at least- back to blogging health!

I can’t even put into words yet, how these past five days have been.  I’m still trying to evaluate it myself.  But the Holy Spirit has put in the forefront of my mind the value of grace, which is commonly defined as unmerited favor by Christians.  Merriam-Webster’s definition, in the context of biblical scripture, is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration and sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace; approval; favor; privilege.

To receive God’s grace is so humbling.  In fact, God gives grace to the humble 9Pr 3:34).  Not the perfect, but the humble.  Paul boasted in God’s wisdom to afflict him with a thorn in his flesh along with the revelations he’d given to keep him humble (2 Co 12:7-10).  The nature of his affliction of the flesh was unknown, so we can find ourselves here.  God gives a better solution than removing the thorn:  for him to show himself strong in people’s lives despite their weaknesses.  The absolute best example is Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary and resurrection (Lk 22:41-44; 23:26-24:35).

Paul says something so striking in Acts 20:24, and I second it: ‘…I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace’.  Or as the Michael A. Jones version goes, ‘My life wouldn’t have meant nothin’ unless I did as God told me to do, through his Word, by living a life that testifies to the gospel of his grace, which has shown that although I was messed up, God was still able to use me!’  As much as Paul had been blessed with, he also had his weaknesses, which kept him humble and fully aware that it was all God who was working in him, and not himself. 

Without grace there would be no hope.  We’d be subject to the law of sin which results in death (Ro 8:1-2).  The law was given, not to bring about redemption, but to point out the need for it, which is only offered through Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Ro 5:20-21, and NIV note).  The Bible tells us to be careful of taking advantage of grace.  Don’t be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  But grace should be our motivation to obey God in love (Ro 6:1-15; Gal 6:7).

Not to deny the reality and the goodness of justice, but grace is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.  Without it, there is no hope, no faith, no Christianity.  So I conclude with these parting words John wrote until Christ’s return, ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.’ (Rev 22:21)       

  

Have Nothing to Do With Them

We are all called to be holy and sanctified.  But if perfection was the criteria for whom God allowed us to associate with, then we’d truly be islands, not dealing with anyone.  (Furthermore, how estranged would we be from a holy God himself?) So, I believe that the instruction not to have anything to do with people who are:  lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God should be understood as being indicative of the very character of that individual (2 Tim 3:1-5).  I believe that if the overall tenor of a person’s life is marked by sin -if it doesn’t surprise you that they’ve chosen to do wrong, as opposed to right- then these are the people the Word is referring to.  These are the people we should have nothing to do with. 

To some extent, I’ve found myself in the previous description.  I can work on being more self-controlled.  I have moments of pride.  And unfortunately, there have been times when I’ve put my own pleasure first.  But my life is not characterized by these instances of failing to meet the mark.    

The Bible tells us how to further indentify these people we’re to distance ourselves from.  They seemingly lead a life that is good and holy, with a reverence for God, but they lack the power of one who does (2 Tim 3:5; NIV note on 1 Tim 2:2).  They take advantage of people’s weaknesses (v.6-7). And they oppose the truth of God’s word (v. 8).  But the Bible also lets us know that they won’t get very far, because their folly (lack of good sense, prudence, or foresight) will be clear to everyone (v. 9).  God’s not trying to deny us anything, but it’s plain to see that he wants to save us from suffering the same fate as these people because surely bad company corrupts good character (1 Co 15:33).

Similarly, these people who do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God (the word ‘retain’ is used here because the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men [Tit 2:11]), not only continue to do these things -become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity, are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice, are gossipers, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil, they disobey their parents; they’re senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless- but they approve of those who practice them as well (Ro 1:28-32)! 

The Bible tells us that these people deserve death (v. 32).  But thank God, he’s loved us enough to provide us with a way out if we’re ever so caught out there that we’re given over to a mind such as this (v. 28; Jn 3:16).  Jesus Christ (our way out!) who’s given the ransom for our lives, so that we can be restored into right standing with God has offered his blameless, unblemished, perfect life for ours (Mk 10:45; Ro 5:10; 10:9; 1 Co 15:56-57; 2 Co 5:21).  Through him we have the opportunity to cheat death (Rev 12:11).  All YOU need to do is accept the gift of salvation offered, by confessing that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved (Ro 10:9).  No, you won’t be perfect, but you will be saved.          

Salvation

We’re told that we’ve all have sinned and fallen short of what God has intended us to be -as detailed in his word, which is the Holy Bible (Ro 3:23; Jn 1:1-5).  To be clear, the word all excludes no one.  And falling short of God’s word is the definition of what sin is.  Being made in God’s spiritual image, we’re intended to be like God, who is holy, righteous, just, etc. (Ge 1:26-28; 1 Sam 2:2; Ro 3:22; 2 Th 1:6).  However, after the fall of man we’re all born into sin -meaning we have the propensity to sin, not that we were born with sin (Ge 3; Ps 51:5).  And the result of sin is death, and separation from God (Ro 6:23; Isa 59:2; Hab 1:13). 

There must be a sacrifice given for sin, in order to reconcile us to God, and Jesus Christ has made that sacrifice for us (Heb 9:22; Ro 4:25; 1 Jn 2:2: Heb 10:10-18).  He was qualified because he did what no one else did, lived a perfect life, free of sin (2 Co 5:21).  And not only did he lay down his life, but he was resurrected, meaning he has victory over sin, and the death that results from it (Ro 5:8; 1 Co 15:3-4, 54-57).  And through Christ we have the same power to overcome sin and death (Ro 5: 8-10; 6:6, 23; 1Pe 3:18). 

Since salvation has been offered, it is now for us to receive it by faith in Jesus Christ (Jn 1:12; 3:16-18; 5:13).  It is only by our belief in Jesus that we receive salvation, not by our works (Eph 2:8-9; Jn 5:24).  From sin, death, and separation to righteousness, life and reconciliation we are saved (Jn 20:31; Ro 3:21-22).  People differ on what’s required for salvation:  whether, or not, it is a one time deal or the reception of salvation must be perpetual, and whether, or not, baptism, or a confession in speech, are absolutely necessary (It would be a shame if a man couldn’t be saved because he was mute, or there was a drought.) (Jn 3:5; 17:3; Ro 10:9-13).  But the one thing that all scripture, regarding salvation, has in common is belief in Jesus Christ (Lk 23:39-43; Jn 14:6).  God, being just will only hold us responsible for what we know or have been given the opportunity to know (Ro 1:20; Rev 3:20).