Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." (Mark 14:35-36) I've read this many times but it struck me differently this time. Think about it. Jesus prayed and God said no. Jesus wanted so badl...

"Could you not watch with me just one hour?" Matthew 26:40 Here is a deeply profound truth about the Lord Jesus that he makes us especially aware of as we conclude our forty days of lent and observe Holy Week, the days leading up to Resurrection Day. Jesus does not need our prayers but he deeply desires our presence. As he contemplated the cross before him Jesus prayed...

35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, the hourmight pass from him.36"Abba,[b]Father,"he said,"everything is possible for you. Take this cupfrom me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." (Mark 14:35-36) In the garden of Gethsemane, on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, Jesus left his disciples alone so he could pray. This pl...

Something I've been meditating on this past week has been the cycle of death and resurrection- and how it's so central to our faith and our walk with Christ. Death and resurrection should go hand in hand in our lives as Christ followers, just as Christ died and was resurrected. We see throughout scripture how the death of something can bring life to something else. Death ...

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (1 John 3:16) When's the last time you paused to reflect on how deeply you love Jesus? Are you loving Him with the kind of genuine, wholehearted devotion that He deserves, or has it become just a passing thought in the busyness of life? Sometimes we can get so caught up in the motions of our fait...

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ) Last week, someone asked me a good question. "How are we supposed be sober-minded (which we are instructed to do in 1 Peter 5:8), while also being full of joy (since we are told in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice always)?" ...

May I share this excerpt from Pastor Rigo's final class notes on divine healing? The Meaning of Salvation Salvation = the Greek word is Sozo Eternal life Healing Deliverance Provision Wholeness Protection Preservation At this season, maybe we should meditate on the great salvation that Jesus has purchased for us. He made that purchase with His own precio...

But he was piercedfor our transgressions, he was crushedfor our iniquities; the punishmentthat brought us peacewas on him, and by his woundswe are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Horatius Bonar was Scottish preacher, poet, and hymn-writer in the 1800's. In 1878 he wrote a hymn called The Sin-Bearer. These words really bring to life the enormity of Christ's sacrifice for us in contr...

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭23�...

Psalm 22 is extensively quoted by and lived out by Jesus while he is dying on the cross. Jesus specifically quotes some words from the Psalm, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me". Some elements of Psalm 22 are fulfilled during his crucifixion, such as the Messiah's garments being divided, and his executioners casting dice for a share of his clothing. There is one phr...