Contemplations

“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).  When Adam and Eve fell to the temptation of the serpent, 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).   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...