Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed our message…?” Are you having trouble believing for things unbelievable? The prophecy describing the coming of the Messiah in Isaiah 53 shocks us to the core. The Creator God of all majesty and power was coming to the earth as a suffering servant. Rather than Continue Reading…
Nehemiah 13:2 “(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing).” [NIV] It has to be the most un-parenthesis worthy statement in the Bible. Maybe that’s why other versions use a simple period or dash. But my NIV version puts a parenthetical around the fact that God turned a curse Continue Reading…
Philippians 2:6-7 “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” A person’s last words carry a hefty punch. I cared for my dad the final week of Continue Reading…
Luke 9:26 “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” John the Baptist. Elijah. A prophet come back to life. A lot of false Continue Reading…
Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…?” “Easter is my favorite time of the year” echoes through my mind during Passion Week. My dad often spoke those endearing words the last few years of his life. It’s no wonder. After sixty-five years of rebellion and regret, Continue Reading…
Acts 2:24 “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him…. What a profound truth! Sometimes I race past familiar scripture with the Continue Reading…
Luke 19:38 “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna to the Son of David!” shouts the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem. He’s riding on a colt, just as it was prophesied centuries before the Messiah would do (Zechariah 9:9). Some lay their cloaks on the Continue Reading…
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Purseless. Phoneless. ID-less. That’s how I suddenly found myself the Saturday of Easter weekend. My husband, daughter, son-in-law Continue Reading…
Matthew 26:22 “Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” [NASB] Passover. The last Passover Jesus would celebrate with his disciples. It was the one he “eagerly desired” to share with them before his suffering. At this Passover, broken bread and poured out wine Continue Reading…
Matthew 26: 43 “When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.” Jesus agonized at Gethsemane. The inconceivable awareness of the power of sin produced such anguish that his sweat took the form of blood (hematidrosis). For the first time, his will conflicted with his Continue Reading…