We Shall Live!!

The Good News -- He Lives!!! The judgment of "death" for our sins has been taken in our stead by our God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you imagine one being dead and rising from death??!! Honor and Glory be to our King - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, our Lord and God, Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ.

As I walked out in the brisk, chilly spring morning air to get the newspaper, I noticed the lilies coming up. It is amazing that these pretty little flowers are covered so that they can take below freezing temperatures. We live in a world of miracles...each one as amazing as the next. That God not only planned the scheme of things, but made all things work interdependent on each other. Thank you Lord!

Kathleen and Andy had a scavanger easter egg hunt for Christopher yesterday. Kathleen had clues on little pieces of paper and Chris then search for the treasured eggs. The greatest treasure in his hunt was found in the spare bedroom. It was a brand new bike!!!

Huimin was thinking of making a treasure map for Timmy and Serena's scavanager easter egg hunt. I have not heard back if they actually did the treasure map or not.

Victoria also did a scavanger hunt in the house for Madison and Phil's little girl. She was exhausted when she was trying to come up with clues and kept coming up blank. Finally the clues were made and the easter egg hunt was back on schedule.

Even though the cool breeze outside is full of the cold promise of moisture, Pete will be BBQing ribs over at Mom's today. Its a good day when the family can gather together!

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!!

Day of Deception, Betrayal and Death

Tonight marks the day that the chief priests and scribes plotted to kill Jesus. Judas, who was one of the very disciples of our Lord, agreed to betray Him.

Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money

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Peter, beloved disciple of the Lord, vehemently declares his faithfulness.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

At the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed. We see the human side of Jesus. He knew what was to come and was in agony. The sentence of death for the sins of man could not be changed; the price had to be paid.

Luke 22:41...He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Jesus returned to His disciples and found them asleep. He woke them and told them to pray least they enter temptation. As He was talking to His disciples the multitude came, along with Judas. Then with a kiss, Judas betrayed Jesus.

Luke 22:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Jesus spoke to those who came for him:

Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

How like Peter we are when the world is strong against the Lord and we stay silent. When lies are taught in our churches, our homes and communities, and we fear the condemnation of the world, and do not speak up. Satan gives to us the temptation of fear.

Luke 22:54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”

57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”
But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly

Jesus stands before his accusers.

Luke 22:66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.”

But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?”

So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.”

The chief priests and scribes along with the crowd accuse Jesus before Pilate.

Luke 23:1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”
5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, but Herod returned him to Pilate.

Luke 23:8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Pilate found no fault with Jesus and stood before his people:

13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”

Pilate was to release one prisoner during the Passover. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. But the crowd was stirred up and called for the release of Barabbas instead. A prisoner jailed for rebellion and murder. Pilate again tried to release Jesus, but the crowd would not hear of it.

Luke 23:20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Jesus' followers lamented and mourned for what was happening.

27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

Jesus was nailed to a cross in between two criminals. He was mocked and scorned.

Luke 23:32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The death of Jesus was marked by the Hand of God. The Centurion recognized the truth of the righeousness of Jesus and glorified God. The crowd saw what they had done and were filled with regret.

Luke 23:44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Unconditional Love

We live and are blessed by the goodness of the Lord. He gives us life, He gives us love, and He gives us blessings. Yet, there are people who live as though hell is a social spot for them and their friends. God's mercy will not be there; nor will God. I just am dumbfounded when people joke about God! What gives??

We are so very loved. That God would give us His son, as a sacrifice for our sins!! A holy God, made man to become sin for us! Who lived, and died, and rose from a sinner's death that we may have forgiveness and the hope of eternal life in a beautiful new world. His love is unconditional, it is given freely to all. We don't have to be perfect to be His child, only to walk with Him and repent of our sins.

Unconditional love. A love that is pure, holy and will flow through your spirit. May that love be with you today.

Today is Maundy Thursday or Covenant Thursday. The following is from the Bible:

Matthew 26:17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”

19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”
He said to him, “You have said it.”

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.