It’s believed that crucifixion originated in the sixth century bc and was in use as a punishment and crime deterrent until Constantine of Rome outlawed it in the fourth century ad. In Paul’s day, crucifixion was considered the very worst means of Roman execution, so repugnant that it wasn’t mentioned in polite company. Therefore, theContinue reading “Insight to the Word”
Category Archives: Easter
Show Me
The first Easter did not look like a typical Easter celebration. Before Jesus’ resurrection was discovered, the day was marked by tears, devastation, and bewilderment—not joy, hope, and praise. The disciples were gathered out of fear, to protect one another, not to sing “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”[1] They sat in sadness; theirContinue reading “Show Me”
Jesus and Heaven
Believing in Heaven has no value if we don’t believe in the resurrection of the One who created Heaven and opened its gates to all who will enter. Many people find it easier to believe in Heaven because they’ve heard about someone’s alleged vision, yet they’ll doubt that Jesus Christ was raised from the deadContinue reading “Jesus and Heaven”
By Invitation Only
I’ve long had a strange relationship with invitations. When I was young unless people specifically invited me to join them to hang out or play I would keep to myself. Even with family. As I grew older, I considered second-hand invitations to gatherings as good as non-invitations. I was unlikely to show up somewhere uninvitedContinue reading “By Invitation Only”
That Tears It!
‘The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ It’s almost a throwaway line in Mark’s gospel, sandwiched between the cataclysmic darkness as Jesus, the eternal Son of God, breathed his last whilst nailed to a wooden cross and the centurion’s amazing declaration, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God.’Continue reading “That Tears It!”
Insight to the Word
The Romans normally left the decaying bodies of crucified criminals, especially those convicted of treason, on their crosses for birds to devour as a warning that this same fate awaited those who dared to rebel against Rome. Because it was a “special Sabbath” in that it was also the day of Passover/Unleavened Bread, the JewishContinue reading “Insight to the Word”
Make It Not So
“I wanted somehow to make it not so,” lamented the man, eulogizing a friend who died young. His words gave poignancy to humanity’s ageless heart-cry. Death stuns and scars us all. We ache to undo what can’t be undone. The longing to “make it not so” might well describe how Jesus’ followers felt after HisContinue reading “Make It Not So”
Indeed!
Insight to the Word
Though Simon of Cyrene is mentioned in each of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26), we know very little about him. Aside from his hometown being in Cyrene, all we know of Simon is that he had two sons, Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). This small piece of information, however, takesContinue reading “Insight to the Word”
What Did Jesus Endure That Day?
What trials did Jesus face before His crucifixion?The night of Jesus’ arrest, He was brought before Annas, Caiaphas, and an assembly of religious leaders called the Sanhedrin (John 18:19-24; Matthew 26:57). After this He was taken before Pilate, the Roman Governor (John 18:28), sent off to Herod (Luke 23:7), and returned to Pilate (Luke 23:11-12),Continue reading “What Did Jesus Endure That Day?”
Intentional Faith 