Tag: Redemption

Advent 2024, Jesus is our Hope

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Our first scripture comes from Isaiah 64 as the prophet reminds us of how sinful and undeserving we are of God’s mercy and goodness. Here are verses 1-7 in the Message translation.1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
make the mountains shudder at your presence— You are a mighty and fearsome God.
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you No God is like him!
    who works for those who wait for him. He cares for those who do what is right.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us! Sin causes God to be angry.
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. How can sinful man be saved???
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. Our best efforts are worthless.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you The world seems to have ignored you,God.
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins. Have you left us in our own sins?

Isaiah 64: 8-9 bring us hope. “But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.
9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,
    and remember not iniquity forever.
    Behold, please look, we are all your people.” Isaiah reminds us that God formed us and is our Father. He pleads with God to not remember our sins forever but be assured that we are His people.

God indeed did remember us and sent us Hope, into this dire situation. We were lost in sin with no way to redeem ourselves and get right with God, our Father and maker. He sent us Jesus to bring hope into our world, love into our lives and redemption from sin. Now that is something to rejoice about and focus upon in our ever changing world. 1 Peter 1:2-4 explains the hope we now have in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” Our hope is now living in Jesus and was made possible because of the cross. He died for us so that we may be alive in hope through faith in Him. Paul confirms for us this miracle of faith in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Praise God today for the living hope of Jesus and His plan to redeem us. Jesus is our only hope.

Linda

Resurrection Sunday, Thank You Jesus!

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During our entire Lenten journey, we have pondered the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross and what it means for us in our lives today. Why do we care? Why? Because without Christ’s death and resurrection His life and death would have been meaningless and we would still be dead in our sins. We would be still lost in sin and face eternal death separated from God!  In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Paul writes,”12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

1 corinthians 15 4

Paul made this argument to clarify for the unbelievers and doubters that belief in the resurrection was essential to faith otherwise they would still have all their sins and be under penalty of death.  Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Belief in Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and His victorious resurrection were essential to the Corinthian believer’s faith and are for us as well.  Without the resurrection there is no forgiveness of sins and no victory over death! All of Christ’s suffering here on earth would have been for nothing. 

I know that God is sovereign, all powerful and omniscient and nothing is left to chance or done randomly.  Jesus prayed in John 17:3-4 just before His death, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”   We know God’s plans will be accomplished, His Word, Jesus would not return to Him void. Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”   Job 42:2 also reminds us of this truth, ““I know that you can do all things,  and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”   Praise God His purpose was not thwarted and was accomplished completely by Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead.  Praise God, our Redeemer Lives!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, Your faith is real, your sins are forgiven, you will spend eternity with Jesus, you are empowered and indwelt by His Holy Spirit!  Praise God!

Happy Easter!  Blessings because of our risen Redeemer, Christ Jesus.

Linda

Holy Week, Friday, At the Cross for You and Me

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After His arrest Thursday night, Jesus endured 4 trials.  He went before the religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, then Pilate who sent him to Herod, the Jewish head of state, then back to Pilate.  The Jews wanted Jesus killed but they did not have the authority to execute Him.  They demanded that Pilate, the Roman authority in Palestine, crucify Him.  Pilate had Jesus flogged and beaten even though Pilate knew Jesus to be innocent.  He had hoped this cruel treatment would pacify the Jews.  However, the crowds pressed him and requested the release of the criminal Barabbas instead of Jesus since it was the custom to release one convicted person as a token of goodwill at the Jewish Passover.  The crowds demanded that Jesus be crucified and Pilate agreed to appease the angry and vocal Jewish crowds.   Jesus was then made to carry His own cross to the place of execution, Golgotha.  Along the way Jesus stumbled and Simon of Cyrene was conscripted to carry the cross.  Jesus was then nailed to a cross and hung to die.  His clothes were stripped from Him and as He hung naked on the cross then soldiers gambled for his clothing underneath the cross.

I can not imagine the pain, anguish, humiliation and shame Jesus endured on my behalf. He took all the sins of the world, yours and mine, upon His pure, sinless and innocent body and the sin took him to a place he had never been before.  The sins He took upon himself, our sins, separated him from God, His holy Father.  He did this so that His sacrifice could atone for our sins.  1 Peter 2:24 explains what Jesus accomplished for you and me.

24 He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.  (NLT)

I never realized how sweet Jesus’ final words from the cross were until recently.  “‘It is finished.’ With that, he lowered his head and gave up his spirit.”  John 19:30   He declared with His final breath that the work of redemption was complete, and He had accomplished what the Father had sent Him to do. Through His death He took the punishment, death, for the sins of all who would believe for all eternity.  Having accomplished His work, He gave up His spirit.  His life was not taken from Him, but He gave it up voluntarily at the time of His choosing.  Only God can choose the time of His death.  When we speak of someone dying, we say the person has life take from them.  We don’t get to chose the hour or minute of our last breath, but Jesus chose when and where He was to die for you and me.  I am staggered by His love and sacrifice that He would endure such punishment and isolation from God on my behalf.  As you ponder the cross today, think of all Jesus gave up and all He did on your behalf.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I live redeemed from the penalty of sin, covered by His incredible sacrifice and will be able to stand before God sinless.

Prayer:  Father, the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice and your love in sending Him to die for my sin is incomprehensible.  ‘Your ways and not my ways’ Isaiah reminds us in Isaiah 55:8.  I am so thankful for your plan of redemption. I stand humbly before you because of Jesus, my Savior, covered by His righteousness.  Praising you in Jesus name, Amen.              

Linda

Christ Did It All for Me

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As I near the end of this Lenten season and my journey through the Psalms, it seems appropriate to conclude with one of my favorite psalms. Psalm 103 had always held a special place in my heart as the messages contained within are so encouraging to my faith.

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim the benefits of knowing and trusting in God without any reservations.

God promises the benefits of faith: healing, forgiveness, redemption, love, mercy, goodness and renewal! That is why without reservation, I can praise His name and call Him blessed. He has healed my broken heart, forgiven my sins and restored me on more than one occasion. He has treated me with love and tender mercy and renewed my life when I thought all was lost. I think this is why this psalm resonates so with me. It seems a picture of my spiritual journey and shows the hope and redemption I have found in Christ. I pray the words of this psalm speak to you today and remind you of how blessed with are to know and live in Christ.

Linda

God Loves the Godly

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Psalm 37 ends in great comfort and incentive to keep on keeping on in Christ..

37 Look at those who are honest and good,
    for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

The theme in scripture of the honest or good man being rewarded with a future that is filled with peace is something that brings us comfort as believers. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he expresses these thoughts too. Matthew 5:8-9 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Romans 5:1 speaks of the peace we find in Jesus, a new way of life, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” James 3:18 “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
    they have no future. 39 The Lord rescues the godly;
    he is their fortress in times of trouble. It is pretty plainly stated in scripture that the wicked or evil doers will meet a different end. Proverbs 24:19-20 “Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” Romans 1:18 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Ephesians 5:5-6 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. “

George Mueller was a great 18th century evangelist with a powerful testimony!

40 The Lord helps them,
    rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
    and they find shelter in him. What a beautiful way to end this psalm. The Lord helps believers, rescues them from the clutches of the wicked, saves and shelters them.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can experience peace and redemption from wickedness in Him. What a blessed and generous God we serve! Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Redemption, Encouragement and Comfort, Psalm 34 Has it All!

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Psalm 34 has some of the most encouraging verses David ever penned, my opinion. He was under stress and seeking God’s deliverance from Abimelech the Philistine king. He even pretended to be insane to escape his clutches. David is pouring out his heart and troubles to God and I find great encouragement in his words.

Verse 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears. How many of us have been so fearful at times that we needed God’s deliverance? David knew His God would answer if he cried out to him both physically and mentally. Do you have the same assurance?

Verses 7-10 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. I love the visual of God’s protection in verse 7. We know God has angels to watch over us. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament of God’s power and protection is found in 2 Kings 6 where the king of Aram is pursuing Elisha. He tells his servant to not be afraid “as those who are with us are more than those who are with them” ” O LORD open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariot of of fire all around Elisha.” The servant saw they were surrounded by an army of angels. God watches over us just as He did his servant Elisha.

The command in verse 8 is to taste and see that the Lord is good! Knowing Him is something we can feel within our souls like we were tasting a good food. Verses 9 and 10 talk about fearing the Lord. The promise is if we fear the Lord we will have no lack. Fear here is not trepidation but awe, admiration, trust, faith and commitment too. Putting our trust in God removes all else from consideration and we do not need to be afraid of worldly things.

Verse 17-18 are very reassuring. ” When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears  and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.” These verse bring hope and comfort to our souls. When we are disheartened or brokenhearted God knows our pain and brings us comfort.

Lastly, verse 22 is David’s crowning conclusion. “The Lord redeems the life of his servants;  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” What a wonderful promise to those who love the Lord.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we are assured of redemption and a declaration by Jesus that we are NOT GUILTY when we stand before Him. Thank you Jesus that the promise of redemption and refuge can always be found in Jesus for those who love Him.

Linda

Entire Psalm 34 below

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

‘Immanuel’ Revealed in the Prophecy Candle Today

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During this time of year, we remember specifically different aspects of the Christmas story each Sunday of Advent. The four Sunday’s leading up to Christmas Eve are celebrated by the light of a candle remembering part of the Christmas story. The first is to be lit today. It is the Prophecy candle proclaiming the coming birth of Christ, Isaiah 7:14, and it represents hope. The second is the Bethlehem candle highlighting the manger and coming Christ child, Luke 2:12, and it represent love. The third is the Shepherd’s candle highlighting the announcement to the shepherds of Christ’s birth and it represents joy, Luke 2:8-11. The fourth is the Angel’s candle which represent peace from Luke 2:13-14. The last or center white candle is the Christ candle. This candle is lit on Christmas Eve and represents the arrival of our savior who came to cleanse us from sin, Isaiah 1:18.

Today’s verse from Isaiah was given hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. It is such a specific prophecy that it is amazing. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” From this the Israelites were to expect their Messiah to have a miraculous birth and he would reveal God to them, as his name means ‘God with us’. Since he would be born, he would be a human child, but He would reveal himself as God. He would live with them and it would be as if God himself was with them. I can’t imagine how hopeful and yet confused they must have been to read this over the centuries. As time elapsed, they knew that God had promised them a flesh and blood representative to reveal God among them. It was a hope-filled message for them and for us. Today as we know Jesus came revealing God to all mankind. He died to redeem and reconcile us to God. His resurrection frees us from the bondage to sin and promises eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Today we learn that God is a god of HOPE. He wants us uplifted from our everyday lives with His blessed hope provided in Jesus. Jesus came to bring us hope so we would know ‘Immanuel’, God with us.

May you experience His hope today as you worship Him on this first Sunday of Advent.

Linda

An Unlikely Start to Advent, but A Necessary Perspective

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As we begin the month of December, we turn our focus on Advent and the birth of our Lord and Savior. Each year for the last 10 years I have written each day in December to help bring myself closer to His celebration and truths instead of focusing on the world’s obsession with buying, gift giving and making or saving money. I pray that my blogs will stimulate your thinking and help you to focus on Jesus with your heart, mind and soul. As I look at the various players in the story of the Lord’s coming and His birth, I want to reflect on God and what the story shows us about His character and especially his great love for us.

Today’s thought about God is that He set His Redemptive Plan in motion when sin entered the world. Only Sovereign God could accomplish this for us. He did it by sending His son Jesus.

The story begins in Genesis 3:14-15. Eve had been enticed by the serpent (the devil) into eating from the tree of good and evil which God had forbidden them to eat. She ate and then gave some to Adam so they both were guilty of disobeying God. God spoke to them- the serpent, Eve and Adam and told them the consequences of their actions. So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.” These words are the first hint in scripture that there will be trouble between the offspring (Jesus) of the woman and those that do not believe. God is saying that regardless of the problems, Jesus will crush him (Satan and his minions). This will come to a conclusion when Christ returns and all are held accountable before Him. Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.”

All history is about this struggle over sin and its desire to lure, entice, bind and overcome us so that we will not follow God. The original sin that started in the garden overshadows mankind. That is why when Jesus says in John 8:12  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He is showing us a way to leave the darkness brought on by our sin and to walk in His light. Through Jesus, God provides a way for us to be reconciled to Him and get out from under the bondage of sin. Paul exhorts us in Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Faith in Christ frees us from slavery to our sins. John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

So the arrival of Advent bring Christians a time of reflection on all of God’s goodness and the hope of redemption provided by Jesus. We see God’s great love in sending Jesus to save us from our sins. We were in a hopeless state before His coming as there was nothing we could do to get ourselves right with God and erase our sin. We could not be ‘good’ enough to earn God’s favor.

Thank you Jesus for coming.

Linda

He Did It All for You and Me! Thank You Jesus!

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This last portion in the 4th Song in Isaiah continues to show the suffering servant and how He fulfilled the Father’s will to save us. Isaiah 53:9-12

He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave. Luke 23:32 tells us that the 2 men crucified alongside Jesus were criminals. “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.” After Jesus death, Joseph of Arimathea a rich man who was a follower of Jeus and was on the Council but had not agreed to Jesus’ death went to Pilate. He asked for Jesus’ body so he could bury him in a tomb he had had made. Mark 15:46 “ So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him.
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. God’s plan was one of love for the lost whi He sought to redeem through His Son. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 8:3 “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,”

11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins. The phrase Victory in Jesus comes to mind as I see these words. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?     Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. He bore our sins and will be exalted for all eternity. Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,   to the glory of God the Father.“

I pray that the study of Isaiah 53 has added a new dimension to your Holy Week observances.

Linda

By His Stripes We Are HEALED!

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As the Song #4 continuous in Isaiah 53:4-8 we hear and see more about Messiah and His suffering. We see the cost of His sacrifice for us.

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

Verse 4 points out that the pain and suffering Christ endured was ours to bear but He willingly suffered for us. Verse 5 goes on to explain that it was our sins that brought on His punishment. It was our sins that caused Him to be crushed in spirit as he died and caused him to feel forsaken by God. Sin separates us from God and Jesus died so we could be healed. He suffered that separation so we could be healed and brought into relationship with the Father. He was not left separated for He conquered death and rose from the dead. By His wounds were are healed. Here are some New Testament passages that speak to these verses in Isaiah. Romans 4:25 “ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.

Verse 7 speaks to the fact that Jesus did not defend his innocence when put on trial. Luke 23:9 “ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.” John 19:9 “and he (Pilate) went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.” Verse 8 reminds us that Jesus was judged unjustly and then led off to His death. Here is the passage from John recounting the scenes leading up to the crucifixion. John 19:1-16 “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.”

Jesus suffered so for our sins. Through His death and resurrection we can be brought into a redeeming relationship with God. He paid the ultimate price. John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Thank you Jesus.

Linda