Author: Jayne Lawson

Scripture: “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?” – Job 12:7-9

Examination: Job rebukes his friends’ belief that God always punishes the wicked and always blesses the righteous. He then speaks to God’s sovereignty and power over His creation, reminding them that suffering is not always a direct result of sin.

Application: After the resurrection, the Bible tells us that there were still those who doubted Jesus had risen from the dead. Luke 24 recounts the story of two men who encountered Jesus as they traveled to Emmaus. They wore their grief on their faces, causing Jesus to ask, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” (v 17).  They proceeded to explain about Jesus, a prophet of God, who had recently been crucified. While they mentioned that His tomb had been found empty, they gave no evidence that they believed He had risen from the death. They failed to see Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Messiah. They were grieved because, in their eyes, a mighty prophet of God had been executed.

At the conclusion of their explanation, Jesus began to speak to them using Scriptures that referred to Himself, explaining that everything that happened was according to God’s plan.  “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (v 26). However, it wasn’t until after Jesus had blessed and broken the bread for the evening meal that the two men realized with whom they were dining. They had missed all the signs… all the prophecies fulfilled… all the evidence that Jesus was the Christ, the sent One of God for whom all of Israel was waiting.

So many people today are looking for God, yet fail to see Him all around us. Because they cannot see God, they don’t believe He exists. Yet the proof is everywhere! Romans 1:20 states, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” The world demands proof of His existence, then denies the evidence presented. However, if you truly seek God, you will find Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 states, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Here are three examples that provide clear evidence that God is.

1. I recently sat and watched a bumblebee flit from flower to flower. Gathering pollen is needed for the hive to thrive. As it moved from blossom to blossom, some of the pollen was transferred to other plants for the reproductive process. Without the bee, the flowers would struggle to propagate themselves. This little buzzing fellow was a beautiful display of divine design and purpose, not to mention how its wings work in a unique pattern to keep it in flight! Colossians 1:17 tells us God is the Creator and He sustains all life, “And He is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

2. As a former obstetrical nurse, I assisted in delivering babies. To realize that one single fertilized cell developed into billions of cells, forming tissues, organs, and systems that are ALL different in both make-up and function is beyond comprehension. That is definitive proof of God’s handiwork. Psalm 139:16 states, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

3. A lot of things have to fall into place in order to support life as we know it… and not just one particular form of life, but all the various species we have on this planet. Earth is exactly the right distance to support life with its water, the right temperatures, an atmosphere that filters and protects, and gravity that keeps our planet in the orbit it needs to be. How? Undeniably, God! Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

These are only three examples that point to “intelligent design” – the current euphemism for God. There are a plethora of other examples that support His existence, but unlike the two men from Emmaus, you must be expecting to see Him!

Upon the realization of who had been with them, those two men stated, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). If you sincerely want to find God, you must diligently search for Him with an open mind and heart, and you will find Him. Proverbs 8:17 records God’s promise, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Memory Verse: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What would you say to someone if they asked you how you know God exists?

2. If you don’t know how to respond, what could you do to prepare yourself to be able to answer this question?

There is a God--all nature speaks,
Through earth and air and sea and skies:
See, from the clouds his glory breaks,
When first the beams of morning rise.

The rising sun, serenely bright,
O'er the wide world's extended frame
Inscribes, in characters of light,
His mighty Maker's glorious name.

The flowery tribes, all blooming, rise
Above the weak attempts of art;
Their bright, inimitable dyes
Speak sweet conviction to the heart.

Ye curious minds, who roam abroad,
And trace creation's wonders o'er,
Confess the footsteps of a God;
Come, bow before him, and adore.

(from “God is Seen in His Works” by Anne Steele)

Scripture: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Examination: Paul begins this chapter speaking about the “groaning” of the mortal body, that is, the desire to be changed into the immortal bodies all will have in heaven. He reminds the Corinthian believers that it will happen one day, and until then, they have been given the Holy Spirit, which is God’s promise of that which is to come. Lastly, he reminds the Corinthian church that by placing their trust in Christ, they are “new” in Him now and able to serve Him in the present day until they are called to their heavenly home.

Application: Spring is a time of new birth. Flowers are beginning to blossom, trees begin to sprout tiny green leaves, birds are building their nests, and there is warmth in the breeze. It is only appropriate that the resurrection of Jesus occurred in this season because it is He who gives us new life!

One of the most amazing parallels in the Bible is how the Jewish feasts are related to the Lord Jesus Christ and the new life He has provided for us.

• Passover is a springtime holiday that remembers the Israelites’ exodus from Egyptian bondage. It commemorates God’s angel of death’s “passing over” the houses whose doors were marked with the blood of a slain lamb.
  • Jesus was proclaimed to be the “Lamb of God” by John the Baptist. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John1:29).  Jesus was crucified at the same time the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in Jerusalem, and it was His shed blood that freed us from the bondage of sin. Jesus is our Passover Lamb.
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after Passover. It represents the hurried fleeing of the Israelites from Egypt, which didn’t allow for bread to be made with leaven as there was no time to allow it to rise. Spiritually speaking, it represents striving to live a righteous life without sin.
  • Jesus is our “Bread of Life”. John 6:48 records the Lord’s words, “I am that bread of life.” Jesus lived a sinless life to become the perfect sacrifice required for our salvation. It is only through Him that our sins can be removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). When we accept Christ as our personal Saviour, we can stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus without the shame and guilt of our sins! “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10).
• The Feast of Firstfruits is celebrated the day after the first Sunday of Passover. It is a time when the best of the first barley harvest is offered to God, and represents thanksgiving and trust in His provisions.
  • Jesus rose on this day, becoming the “firstfruits from the dead” signifying that a resurrection to eternal life through Him will occur one day for all who have accepted Him as their personal Saviour. 1 Corinthians 15:20 states, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” We are raised to new life in Jesus upon salvation as it states in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This empowers us to serve Him here, but it is also the guarantee that we will be resurrected to eternal life with Him… following still in His footsteps.

The new life that we live in Christ on this earth is just the beginning of our new life in Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 promises that that one day, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Because Jesus lives, so shall we, and one day, He will call us home, where we will be with Him forever!

Memory Verse: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” – Colossians 3:1

Stretching your thoughts:

1. How does the knowledge that the Old Testament is so tightly interwoven with the truth of Jesus and the New Testament impact your faith?

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

(from “He Lives” by Alfred Ackley)

Scripture: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” – Acts 13:46

Examination: In this chapter, Paul preached his first missionary message to the Jews outside of Jerusalem, but they rejected the truth of the gospel. Due to that, Paul is sent by God to the Gentiles to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application: There have been many sermons preached about the unworthiness of mankind. Many hymns have been written about the same. But what exactly does it mean to be “unworthy” in the eyes of God?

Perhaps the most common response is found in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”  For whatever reason, it seems to be quite easy to agree with that verse, and say, “Yes, I am a sinner. I am unworthy of God’s grace.” However, it’s important to understand that being “unworthy” puts us all collectively in the same category.

God does not have degrees of sin. One particular sin is no worse than any other sin. As carnal beings, we tend to classify sins such as lying, gossiping, or cheating a little on taxes as small sins. The biggies tend to be murder, adultery, theft, and others like these. But to God, sin is sin. The smallest lie can separate a person from God and exclude him or her from heaven.

It is the same for our unworthiness. Like sin, we tend to categorize unworthiness into levels. A person who was involved in those seemingly insignificant sins is less unworthy than an abortionist, terrorist, or rapist. The latter group is hugely unworthy of God’s grace, right? Wrong. God doesn’t have levels of unworthiness.

The truth is each one of us is equally unworthy of God’s grace as the most heinous of criminals. I am as unworthy in the Lord’s sight as one who promotes pornography, manufactures and sells illegal drugs, or persecutes Christians.

Sin is sin. Unworthiness is unworthiness. Period. End of discussion.

According to Romans 6:23, the only thing we are “worthy” of is death. The first part of that verse states, “For the wages of sin is death;” If the story ended here, it would be a tragedy, but there is more to this verse. It finishes with “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Yes, we are all sinners. Yes, we are all unworthy of God’s mercy and grace. Yes, we are all powerless to do anything about it.

But God did something about it Himself.

1. God’s holiness demanded a punishment for sin, but we couldn’t satisfy that requirement because it is our very sin that makes us unworthy and unable to do so.

• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

2. Jesus took the punishment for sin in our place. His sinless body suffered the greatest of agonies through scourging and crucifixion for us to have the opportunity to be redeemed.

• “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

3. Jesus rose from the dead becoming the Saviour of the world.

• “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” – Luke 24:6-7

4. As the Saviour, Jesus forgives every sin… “big or small”… to all those who place their faith and trust in Him.

• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9-10

If we are so unworthy, why would God sacrifice His beloved Son to purchase salvation for us? The answer is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We may be unworthy sinners, but we are loved by God beyond measure!

Memory Verse: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Sometimes the realization of how unworthy we are is overwhelming. What verses would you share with someone who felt unworthy of God’s love?

Unworthy am I of the grace that He gave,
Unworthy to hold to His hand;
Amazed that a King would reach down to a slave,
This love I cannot understand. 

Unworthy, unworthy, a beggar;
In bondage and alone;
But He made me worthy and now by His grace,
His mercy has made me His own. 

(from “Unworthy” by Ira Stanphill)

Scripture: “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25

Examination: Paul is explaining to the Corinthian believers how the worship of God should be honored, and that there are definite gender roles and responsibilities in the church. The last half of this chapter focuses on the observance of the Lord’s supper. Paul stresses that there must be reverence for the Lord’s supper. It should never be taken lightly or participated in when there is unrepentant sin in one’s heart, nor should there be discord among themselves. If there is, they need to seek forgiveness and make restoration before they partake of the Passover meal. If they dishonor the Lord by ignoring these directives, they will be judged by God accordingly.

Application: Yesterday, our church had a communion service in the evening. This practice was instituted at the “last supper” when Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover Seder. Jesus used this time to teach His final lesson to His closest followers.

There were two items that Jesus used to illustrate the sacrifice He was soon to make. The first was the unleavened bread. When Jesus broke the bread, He told them it represented His body that soon would be “broken” for all mankind. This was representative of the physical suffering He would go through just prior to and during the crucifixion. Isaiah 53:5 was the prophetic declaration of what would happen to the Messiah. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails…

The second element was the cup. The cup of wine was a representation of His blood that would be shed for the sins of the world. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “…without shedding of blood is no remission.” As He passed the single cup around to each disciple, He stated, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28), and instructed them to remember this each time they gathered for the Passover seder and partook of the wine.

During the 400 years of bondage in Egypt, God used Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom from the tyranny of the Egyptian ruler. Because of the Pharaoh’s hardheartedness, ten terrifying plagues fell upon the land of Egypt showcasing God’s power and majesty. The last plague involved the death of every firstborn males in each household unless the blood of a lamb had been applied to the doorposts as directed by the Lord. The Israelites did as He said, and they were spared from the angel of death, but every Egyptian household without the blood on the doorposts experienced the judgement of God in the death of their firstborn son. Because of this event, the Pharaoh released the Israelites from their captivity. Passover is the Jewish holiday that celebrates their freedom from Egyptian slavery.

The picture of Christ is seen in the Passover lamb. 1 Peter 3:18 explains this, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” Jesus, like the Passover lamb, shed His blood for the sins of all mankind. Those who choose to believe in His sacrifice and accept Him as their personal Saviour will be saved from the future wrath of God’s judgement upon this earth. If a person has rejected Jesus as Saviour… that is, they have not placed their faith and trust in the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross by the shedding of His blood, one future day, they will face the judgement of God.

Our salvation costs us nothing, but it cost God everything. He allowed Himself to be brutally tortured and then slain on a cruel Roman cross for us. Jesus was the sinless sacrifice that purchased our redemption; He was our Passover lamb… whose precious blood “taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Memory Verse: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Some people believe that there are many different ways to get to heaven. How would you respond to this?

Your only Son, no sin to hide, But you have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod and to become the Lamb of God

Oh Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God.
O wash me in His precious blood. My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Your gift of love, they crucified. They laughed and scorned Him as He died.
The humble King they named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God.

Oh Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God.
O wash me in His precious blood. My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

(from “Lamb of God” by Twila Paris)

Scripture: “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew 28:6

Examination: The account of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is in all four of the gospels. In Matthew’s writing, we read of the women who came to anoint the body and were greeted by an angel proclaiming the glorious truth that Jesus was not there. He was alive!

Application: Since the women who came to the tomb of Jesus had spices with which to anoint the body, we can surmise that they did not expect to find a risen Christ. Upon arrival at the gravesite, they are met by an angel who asks the question in Luke 24:5, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

Jesus had repeatedly spoken of His resurrection, but the reality of it had not remained with His followers. No one rushed to the grave on that third day to welcome Him back from the dead. No one planned a party when He returned to them alive. Their expectation was to find a lifeless body within a dark, cold tomb. Despite all they had seen and been told by Jesus, many still doubted His resurrection as recorded in the Bible.

Mary thought a gardener had removed the body.

• “She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” – John 20:15

Peter wondered what had happened.

• “Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.” – Luke 24:12

Thomas refused to believe without proof.

• “But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” – John 20:25

Still other followers doubted.

• “And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.” – Matthew 28:17

Eventually, the reality of Jesus’ resurrection was undeniable, and His closest followers became powerful leaders of the early church. The resurrection proved that everything Jesus said about Himself was true. He is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world!

Both the Scriptures and historical accounts state that Jesus was crucified AND that He was resurrected. Eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive, talking, eating, teaching, etc. repeatedly for forty days after His resurrection and before His final ascension to His Father in heaven. Referring to Jesus, Luke wrote in Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” Additionally, Paul wrote that Jesus spoke to a group of 500 at one time after the resurrection, “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:6).

The resurrection is one of the key differences between Jesus and other major religious figures. If you wanted to visit the graves of some of the most well-known religious leaders, you would find them in the following places:

• Muhammed’s body is buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
• Confucious’ body is buried in Qufu, China.
• Buddha’s cremated remains are enshrined in eight different locations in India.
• If you want to see Jesus’ body in its final resting place, you cannot do so for there is no body in the tomb. It is empty!

Because of His great love for you and me, Jesus endured the unimaginable on the cross and in the grave to pay for our sins and purchase our salvation. He desires a personal relationship with each one of us and offers forgiveness of sins to anyone who calls upon Him for salvation. Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” As sinners, we need a Saviour. That Saviour is Jesus.

Because He lives, I am assured that I will live also! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Memory Verse: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” – John 11:25

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Do you have a time in your life when you called upon Jesus to forgive your sins become your Lord and Saviour? If not, you can do that today! He’s waiting for you with outstretched arms!

God sent His son, They called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, Heal and forgive;
He lived and died To buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there To prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!

(from “Because He Lives” by Bill and Gloria Gaither)

Scripture: “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” – Psalm 50:3

Examination: This psalm by Asaph extols the majesty of God and His judgment upon the righteous and the wicked.

Application: Jesus was dead and buried. All hope for salvation from Roman rule had died along with Him. Fear was overwhelming as the followers of Jesus fled and hid, believing that they might be next on the Roman hit list. No doubt, prayers were desperately whispered, but God was not answering… or so it seemed.

There are many times when it appears as though God has turned a deaf ear to our prayers. Our burdens seem unbearable; our pleas so earnest, but we are greeted with only silence from heaven. Why doesn’t God answer?

Throughout the Scriptures, there are times when God is silent, and in that silence, He seems to be very distant. In Psalm 28:1, David cries out saying, Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.” Elijah also experienced a time when he felt deserted by God, but the Lord was with him and finally spoke to him in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12-13).  Job suffered for a very long time without the Lord speaking to him. When God finally did, it was from within a whirlwind (Job 38). There is also a period of 400 years where God was silent in His dealings with the nation of Israel. This is the time marked by the gap in the writings of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

We also experience challenging times in our lives when God seems to be silent. We pray and pray, but hear nothing from heaven. Has God abandoned us? Absolutely not!

There are several reasons for these times when it seems God is silent.

1. Learning to Trust God – God always does what is best. He will respond in His time.

• “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

2. Becoming Prepared – Delay doesn’t mean denial; it can be a period of preparation.

• “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:” – Psalm 10:17

3. Unrepentant Sin – Unconfessed sin creates a communication barrier between us and God.

• “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” – Psalm 66:18

4. Strengthening Faith – Waiting on God focuses and strengthens our faith.

• “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14

5. God’s Sovereignty – God is not at our beck and call. He does His will when He wants.

• “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” – Isaiah 46:10

Because God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), we can have the complete assurance that silence does not mean abandonment. There is a reason God is waiting to answer our prayers. First, examine yourself. Is there sin that is being harbored? If so, repent and seek His forgiveness. If not, remind yourself that God has a purpose for His apparent silence.

Remember, the followers of Jesus were heartbroken, and the silence of God confused them, but three days after His death, understanding came! Matthew 28:8 records the reaction of those who first realized what had happened, “And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”

Take heart, for in those times of silence… God is working! Psalm 30:5 reassures us, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Memory Verse: “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” – Lamentations 3:26

Stretching your thoughts:

1. When was a time in your life when God seemed to be silent?

2. How did you deal with your doubts and fears at that time?

3. What would you say to someone who was going through a period of time when God was silent?

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

(from “Near to the Heart of God” by Cleland Boyd McAfee)

Scripture: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” – Hebrews 9:22

Examination: The Old Testament procedures for the forgiveness of sins and the role of the priests are reviewed. Specifically, it notes that it is necessary for a blood sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the people. The chapter finishes with the explanation that the old laws pertaining to the remission of sins was only temporary, but Jesus became the final sacrifice for sins on the cross. No longer was the old system necessary.

Application: Many years ago, a misunderstanding between a dear friend and me resulted in a severed friendship. We had attended the same church, and our children often played together. As the years went by, the sadness of the rift was pushed to the back of my mind, and while my broken heart mended over time, it never truly forgot the joys of the relationship we once had, even after I had moved away. However, despite the years that had passed, it was God’s desire that we reconnect and restore our relationship, especially because we were both sisters in the family of God.

At first, I was resistant… pride has a way of doing that… but the Holy Spirit isn’t a quitter. He continued to work on my hardened heart until I realized I needed to apologize. When I did, my friend welcomed me back into her life with open arms! The restoration was immediate, and my heart rejoiced!

As I reflect on that, I am reminded of Adam and Eve. When they sinned against God, their relationship with Him radically changed. Previous to the sin, God walked with the couple in the garden, but once they disobeyed, Genesis 3:8 states, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” Intimate communion with God had been broken by the introduction of sin into the world. From that moment on, God would be physically and spiritually separated from His creation until restoration could be made.

In Genesis 3:15, we are told that it was God who made a way for all mankind to be reconciled to Him, and that solution was a blood sacrifice. Leviticus 17:11 explains, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” It was also God who made that first sacrifice in providing animal skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). However, the sins of man would continue to be passed on to every generation, and the blood of bulls and goats was only a temporary solution. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”, but His plan was to provide a permanent solution to our sin problem, and that solution was Jesus.

When Jesus died upon the cross, it was His blood that became the final atonement for the sins of the world. It was His life’s blood that dripped to the ground from His broken and battered body. It was His precious sinless blood that came pouring out of his body from the thrust of a cold Roman spear. It was His blood that purchased the redemption that we never could attain on our own.

The sacrifice of animals was only a temporary “fix” for the forgiveness of mankind’s sins, but God’s permanent solution was to offer Himself as the sacrifice to bring us back into a personal relationship with Him if we so choose to accept it.

Romans 6:23 reminds us, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Gifts are never forced upon people. Instead, they are accepted. By placing our faith and trust in Jesus’s work on the cross, we are accepting His gift of eternal life. Our sins are not only forgiven, but they are forgotten by God. He promises in Hebrews 10:17, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

Salvation is only made possible by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. He has proven Himself to be the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. He is “… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9), and as such, endured the shame, the suffering, and the most horrific death possible upon an old rugged cross to make a way for us to be reconciled with Him forever. John 3:16 clearly states the reason why Jesus did all this for us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The price that was paid by Jesus to purchase our salvation was the shedding of His own precious blood. It alone met the demand that God’s holiness required for the forgiveness of sins. Because of His unfathomable love for us, He died, so that you and I could live.

Memory Verse: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:8

Stretching your thoughts:

1. If you’ve never invited Christ into your life to forgive your sins and be your Saviour, why not do so now? He died, so you could live with Him forever. I promise you, with Jesus in your heart and soul, this will be the best Easter you will have ever celebrated.

See my Jesus on the cross, the people crying
Looking on, a man would think it tragedy
But what the world could not see
Was when they nailed Him to that tree
It would break the chains of sin′s captivity.

Love grew where the blood fell
Flow'rs of hope sprang up for men in misery
Sin died where the blood fell
I′m so glad this precious blood has covered me.

(from “Love Grew Where the Blood Fell” by John Starnes)

Scripture: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5

Examination: This chapter is Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering and crucifixion of the coming Messiah. Written approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ, it speaks to the price that was paid for our redemption.

Application: It is easy to believe that Jesus died on a cross, but it is very difficult to fathom the horrific details of what he actually went through beginning with His scourging to His crucifixion.

The Romans were very adept at administering punishments that inflicted the greatest amount of pain while prolonging the life of the individual who had been found guilty of a capital offense. Scourging was usually accomplished with a leather whip embedded with bits of sharpened bone and metal balls. It was often a precursor of crucifixion and designed to weaken the person to the point of shock. Unlike Jewish law, which limited the number of lashings, Roman scourging had no numerical limit, and many times the victims would perish from the flogging.

Crucifixion was the Roman death sentence reserved for the lowest on the social order, slaves, criminals, political rebels, and non-citizens of Rome, etc. This was such a terrifyingly brutal form of death that Josephus, an ancient historian, described it as “the most wretched of deaths”. The condemned individual was affixed to the wooden beams with nails and/or ropes and left to die by suffocation and exposure, most commonly within 24-48 hours.

The suffering a crucified person would experience is unimaginable. Jesus was well aware of what He was about to endure. In the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to be spared from what was to come, but willingly surrendered to the will of His Father. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42). Knowing what was ahead of Him, Jesus was overcome with sorrow and anguish as He prayed to His Father, and God in His great mercy, sent an angel to help strengthen His beloved Son. Luke 22:43 states, “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

The Bible also describes the intensity of Jesus’ suffering as He prayed with a condition known as “hematidrosis”… the sweating of blood. Luke 22:44 states, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” This rare medical condition is precipitated by extreme fear, severe stress, or intense emotional distress. Although He was God, He was also man, and this culmination of His work was not an easy road to walk. Jesus knew exactly what was about to happen to Him, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, yet He still chose to do the will of His Father and become the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14).

With a better grasp of the suffering that Jesus endured to pay for our sins, we get a small glimpse of the enormity of the love He has for us. God’s holiness required a perfect sinless sacrifice for the remission of sins, and only Jesus could accomplish that. He chose to walk this most difficult of paths, so that we could have the opportunity to live with Him forever.

Memory Verse: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

Stretching your thoughts:

1. When contemplating the events surrounding the death of Christ, what stirs your heart the most?

King of my life I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

(from “Lead Me to Calvary” by Jennie Evelyn Hussey)

Scripture: “Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.” – John 18:27

Examination: This chapter records the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane and His confrontation with Caiaphas, the high priest. Meanwhile, Peter is outside the priest’s palace warming himself by a fire with a group of strangers. When one claims to recognize Peter as a follower of Christ, Peter vehemently denies it. This happens two more times, and then he realizes that he has rejected the Lord three times, just as Jesus foretold. He weeps in despair.

Application: Imagine being with Jesus every day for three years during His earthly ministry. Think of what you would have seen! The blind had their sight restored! The lame could walk again! Storms of nature were stilled with a simple command! Thousands fed with one small lunch! What an incredible time that must have been… and then it comes to an abrupt halt when Jesus is arrested. At first, you are outraged, but then the reality that you could be next brings you to a place where three times you deny even knowing Jesus. That was Peter.

The Bible gives us a vivid picture of Peter as the “rejector” and the anguish he went through with the realization of what he had done. Matthew 26:75 tells us this dearly beloved disciple was heartbroken over his actions. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”

Perhaps Peter felt all was lost. After all he had experienced in the past three years, his faith had failed, and now he had rejected Jesus on three separate occasions. Surely, there was no hope for him. He couldn’t even talk to Jesus to beg for forgiveness. He couldn’t turn back the hands of time; he couldn’t undo what had happened. He had done the unforgivable… or had he?

After the resurrection, Peter had gone to the tomb after Mary had proclaimed that Jesus had risen. He saw it empty. Was he convinced that Jesus was alive? Matthew 28:16-17 states, “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.” Was Peter one of the doubters? We don’t have an answer to that, but we do know that after all these events, Peter returned to his previous occupation of fishing (John 21:3). Did he believe that there was nothing he could do for Jesus anymore since he had rejected Him? Did he believe Jesus would never forgive him? These are answers that aren’t written in the Bible. However, we do know the end of this story.

After the resurrection, Jesus speaks to Peter and issues a command. In John 21:15-17, Jesus tells Peter three times, “Feed my sheep.” Despite the thrice-rejected declaration of Peter, Jesus loved him, forgave him, and gave him a job to do. Peter had value to God even though he had moments of weakness and failure in his time with Jesus.

Like Peter, we go through times when our faith weakens, and we fail miserably in our Christian walk. When we experience conviction by the Holy Spirit, we may have feelings of great sorrow and even fear that God no longer loves us or will forgive us. After all, as Christians, we should know better, but we must remember that, while we are saved by God’s grace, we are still sinners. As sinners, we still make wrong choices, but the Spirit of God will always convict us to bring us to a place of repentance and restoration. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God is not limited in His forgiveness. It is always available to anyone who seeks it… saved or unsaved. This week is a time to remember what Jesus did for us to provide the forgiveness of sins. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ gave the world its Saviour. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He continues to work in us, making us more like Him. When we sin, and we will, He is always ready to forgive us and continue His good work in us. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” That good work started when we accepted Christ as Saviour and continues in us until He takes us to our home in heaven.

Memory Verse: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” – Mark 9:24

Stretching your thoughts:

1. When someone believes they cannot be forgiven for a particular sin, what would you say to them?

I hear the Savior say, "Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all."

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

(from “Jesus Paid It All” by Elvina M. Hall)

Scripture: “After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” – John 13:5

Examination: Jesus and His disciples are together in the upper room preparing to celebrate the Passover. Jesus begins to teach His followers the meaning of being a servant by washing their feet. Just prior to instituting the new covenant, Jesus sends Judas, whom He knows will betray Him, to do what he needs to do.

Application: After entering Jerusalem on what is now known as Palm Sunday, Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples for the final time. As they sat together, Jesus took a towel, wrapped it around himself and began to wash the feet of the disciples. This was a profound act of humility as it was often the servant who would wash the feet of the master or his guests. Instead, it is the Son of God who is washing the feet of those who chose to follow Him.

One by one, Jesus knelt before each disciple and lovingly washed the dirt and dust from their feet. He moved to each of his disciples at the table… even Judas… the one He knew would betray him. Jesus was fully aware that Judas would sell him out for thirty pieces of silver, yet He still washed his feet.

John 13:11 states, “For he knew who should betray him;” As Jesus sat at the table, He knew Judas’ betrayal would lead to His arrest and ultimately send Him to the cross, yet He still washed his feet.

Later, Jesus would quietly tell Judas to attend to the task that was before him. John 13:27 records Jesus’ words to him, “That thou doest, do quickly.” The feet that the Son of God had recently washed now hastily walked to the chief priests and Pharisees to betray the location of Jesus and facilitate His arrest.

Jesus knew, but He still washed his feet.

John 18:3 states, “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.” Judas returned with an armed mob to take Jesus into custody. Whatever his reason was for doing this, the bottom line was he chose to betray his Master.

Jesus knew his reasons, but He still washed his feet.

Jesus loves each of us with an everlasting love. Nothing changes that. Nothing we do can make Jesus “unlove” us. We can turn our backs on Him; we can deny Him; we can live as though He doesn’t exist. It doesn’t matter.

Jesus would still wash our feet because nothing… absolutely nothing… will ever separate us from His love. Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus will always wash our feet.

Memory Verse: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Why is it difficult for people to believe that God’s love will never change for them?

2. What would you tell someone who believed their sins were too great to be forgiven?

Make me a servant like you, dear Lord,
Living for others each day
Humble and meek, helping the weak,
Loving in all that I say.

Give me, Lord, a servant's heart, here's my life, take every part.
Give me, Lord, a servant's heart.
Help me draw so close to You that Your love comes shining through
Give me, Lord, a servant's heart, give me, Lord, a servant's heart.

(from “A Servant’s Heart” by Ron Hamilton)