Contemplations

“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...

“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, ‘They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots,’” (Matt. 27:35).  Of all the prophetic passages of Christ’s...

“And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him,” (Luke 23:27).  Crowds always seemed to gather around the Lord. Many would press in to hopefully witness his next miracle firsthand. The pharisees and other...

“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha,” (John 19:17). The scene that played out on the dirt path leading from the governor’s palace to the hill of Golgotha this particular day was at once...

“And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go,” (Luke 23:22).  How often are we backed into a position of choice between taking our stand alone with Christ or...

“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas,” (Luke 23:18).  Imagine being a jury of one who must determine, between a known murderer and a benevolent restorer of life, who you will set free and who you will sentence to...

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matt. 27:29).  One of the most amazing and comforting truths surrounding the...

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matt. 27:29).  One of the more interesting observations of the passion of...

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matt. 27:29).   How slippery is the nature of popular affection? The crowd now...

“And Herod with his men of war set him at naught and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” (Luke 23:11).  To better understand everything that happened between the time of Christ’s arrest in the Garden and his sentence of death...

“And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe,” (Matt. 27:28).  After the chief priests and pharisees have their fill of persecuting and torturing the Son of God, he is taken to the governor’s palace and turned over to Pilate and his soldiers. Here he meets...

“And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate,” (Luke 23:1).                God takes blasphemy very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that when he was laying the foundation for how his own people should think about him and behave toward him, God...

“And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate,” (Luke 23:1). One of the greatest ironies of Christ’s arrest and subsequent death was the fact that it was the Jewish religious leaders who prided themselves in their knowledge of the Old Testament law...

“And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, ‘Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?’” (Luke 22:63-64).  Christ’s abusers take great pleasure in torturing him, turning their...

“And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, ‘Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?’” (Luke 22:63-64).  The presence of the shepherd is essential for the safety and...

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me,” (John 16:32).   It takes so little to remind us that we are nothing without Christ, our...

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me,” (John 16:32).   True friends multiply joy as well as lessen misery. Some of Christ’s...

“Then they took him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off,” (Luke 22:54).    We should never be surprised when God doesn’t work the way we think he should in a situation. He never has. And that’s because, as...

“And while he yet spoke, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him,” (Luke 22:47). The aftermath of Judas’ betrayal of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane may be the saddest series of...

“And while he yet spoke, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him,” (Luke 22:47).  A combination of majesty and mercy make up the strongest guard against treason. The position and power...