Contemplations

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.’” (Revelation 15:3)  The contextual passage surrounding this verse in...

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)  The Great Physician came into the world that he might save such as we are, sick and broken with sin. For a sinner cannot enter the kingdom of heaven apart from the cleansing, healing power of...

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” (Hebrews 6:1)  A Christian who never matures beyond the initial experience of repentance...

“And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid. And he said unto them, Be not afraid: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here,” (Mark...

“And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there also Nicodemus, which at...

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water,” (John 19:34).  Of primary concern to the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day was observing the Mosaic law, especially as it related to the Sabbath. As the Ten...

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom,” (Matt. 27:51).  The sacrificial practices required by God from his people to atone for their sins prior to the death of Christ were originally established as the children of Israel...

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,” (Matt. 27:51-52).  In the 24th chapter of Joshua we read of...

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour,” (Luke 23:44).  There are many instances recorded in Scripture where elements of nature responded to direct commands of God and God’s people contrary to their natural...

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst,” (Luke 23:44-45).  The enemies of Christ, those scribes and pharisees that wanted him...

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour,” (Matt. 27:45).  Our Lord was crucified at about the third hour of the day, or nine in the morning. There he hung, in plain sight of all those who surrounded him, so there could be no...

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost,” (John 19:30).  There is no way to comprehend everything Christ was experiencing in that moment when he breathed his last words, “It is finished.”...

“They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink,” (Matt. 27:34).  It was customary for Roman soldiers to offer someone about to be crucified vinegar wine mixed with a bitter herb intended to dull the senses for...

 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home,” (John 19:26-27).  The...

“Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified,” (Matt. 26:2).  God executes everything perfectly according to his divine plan and eternal timetable. So it is no mystery that the events of Christ’s suffering...

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink,” (Matt. 27:33-34).  When all the filters of modern Christianity are removed...

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou come into thy kingdom,” (Luke 23:42).  Christ was often found in the company of sinners, and the day he was crucified was no different. On Calvary’s hill Christ was flanked by two criminals – one on each side –...

“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left,” (Matt. 27:38).  The scene atop Mount Calvary the day of Christ’s crucifixion is representative of what still happens today when sinners encounter the Savior. For in...

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,” (Matt. 27:39).  Nothing is more natural to humanity than for one to see another in misery or poverty and feel pity for them. How often do you see a homeless soul, carrying a bag or maybe pushing a cart with...

“And the governor said, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ But they cried out the more, saying, ‘Let him be crucified,’” (Matt. 27:23).  Because of what the cross represents for the believer in terms of our redemption, it is a symbol of sacrificial love both near and dear...