“He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”—John 19:17 When composer Arvo Pärt left his homeland Estonia in 1980, he brought the first musical compositions for what became his St. John Passion. This was an important work for him, published soon after he arrived in the West. As a Christian, Pärt left Estonia to have the freedom to write music like this. He was then able to express what was in his heart, writing about Jesus, His life and death, teachings, resurrection, and miracles. Pärt’s Passion tells…
Author: Gerald Kure
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven … Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed … celebrate the feast, not with old leaven … but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”—1 Corinthians 5:6–8 NASB The feasts were central to the New Testament church. Knowing their importance, Paul wrote from a position of credibility, as a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” He had studied the Law and knew the history of his people (Philippians 3:5). As he interacted with churches, he assumed they would celebrate the feasts. This was…
On Good Friday, we commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross … the Son of God who died for our sins and the sins of the whole world (John 1:29). As John proclaimed, Jesus came as “the Lamb of God,” fulfilling His divine calling—atoning for every sin ever committed (in the past or the future) and leaving us pure and spotless in His sight! Yet, how easy it can be to hold on to sin. It can be difficult to believe that we could be completely forgiven for our mistakes, our failures, our sins—that we could be…
“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”—John 2:13 NASB. To Jesus, Passover was not just another day, and celebrating Passover was nonnegotiable. During His earthly ministry, He went to Jerusalem for the last time specifically to celebrate Passover. It was no accident that He was arrested, tried, and crucified then, for Passover was His appointed time. The Bible tells us that six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany to visit His friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 12:1–11). And it was in Jerusalem that Jesus and His disciples gathered to celebrate Passover (the…
“Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.”—Luke 23:11–12 NIV The story of Jesus’ death can be seen as a power struggle or clash of kingdoms. On one side, we see governments and religious rulers; on the other, God Himself and King Jesus. This conflict was framed when Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The religious rulers already were concerned. They must have wondered what He could be planning. They had been “looking for…
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NASB Theodulph of Orléans made many positive contributions as a church bishop but was suspected by France’s King Louis the Pious of being disloyal. As a result, Theodulph was sentenced to prison. In these poor conditions, he could have given up or become bitter. Instead, there, he wrote a hymn filled with praise. Today we know this hymn as “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” in the translation done in 1854 by John Mason Neale. Over the years,…
“Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”—Zechariah 9:9 NASB Riding into Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion, Jesus was fulfilling a prophecy given to Zechariah hundreds of years earlier. Through eyes of faith, this prophet saw how a King would come to Jerusalem, humble and mounted on the foal of a donkey. When the day came, a large crowd spread their cloaks on the road in preparation…
“He sent two of His disciples … ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.’”—Mark 11:1–2 NASB The crowds were excited. Learning that Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, they welcomed Him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13). This triumphal entry may seem spontaneous, but Jesus’ actions demonstrate that everything unfolded exactly as He planned. As He and His disciples approached Jerusalem, He told them what was…
“My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me.”—Job 19:14 NIV. Job had been popular and successful, considered “the greatest man” in his part of the world. Then, everything changed. His family was attacked. His flocks were burned. A mighty wind swept in, and his house collapsed (Job 1:1–19). Job himself experienced sickness and sores. The impact was dramatic. Three friends came initially to comfort him. Facing this crisis, Job needed support and encouragement. Instead, he felt criticized and wounded. His friends proved to be “undependable” and of “no help.” Job felt “forgotten” (Job 6:13–21). Job’s story reminds…
“Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called … Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:22–24 NASB Michael Faraday came from a relatively poor family. Showing personal initiative, he educated himself by reading. Continuing to advance, he developed numerous breakthroughs, gradually gaining credibility. His big break came in 1812 when chemist Humphry Davy appointed him as his assistant at London’s Royal Institution. He was ahead of his time, becoming an outstanding…
“Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom … but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”—1 Corinthians 1:17–18 ESV George Bennard found much about the cross puzzling. Seeking to grasp its meaning and significance, he spent hours praying for a full understanding. As God gave him insights, Bennard wrote a hymn with words that he felt God had put into his heart, reflecting his search. The hymn was “The Old Rugged Cross.” This hymn tells of the power of the cross and how…
“I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses … and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NLT We can picture an energetic conductor leading an orchestra, waving a baton, making dramatic gestures, and inspiring audiences with balletic motions. We are not surprised if such conductors produce dynamic performances. But what can be surprising are cases where the conductor is weak or sickly. Gunther Wand conducted until he was ninety.…
“Hell and Destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” – Proverbs 27:20 Our natural tendency is to desire things we see. The truth is that there never is enough to satisfy our cravings. The Bible tells us that the lust of our eyes is “never satisfied.” The more we look, the more we want. The world is full of “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” things not from God (1 John 2:16). At the same time, the Bible reminds us that we can influence what we…
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” – Matthew 6:33 NASB For centuries, the legend of Timbuktu captured the imagination of people throughout Europe. The legend was sparked around 1324 when the ruler of this city arrived in Cairo with a caravan including 60,000 men and 80 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold. The outside world was astonished! They knew Timbuktu was in Africa, but no one knew where or how it accumulated this wealth. Over time, the legend grew. In 1510, a Spanish Moor who had visited Timbuktu…
“Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB William Cowper came from a family of influence. Yet Cowper, the son of the chaplain to England’s King George II, was shy and frequently bullied in school. He went on to study law, helping to fight against slavery. Throughout his life, he remained serious about his commitment to Christ. But despite this commitment, he often struggled with depression. In 1773, he became so depressed…
“He who sits in the heavens laughs, the LORD scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury.” – Psalm 2:4–5 NASB Christians often seem outnumbered and on the losing side of battles. It can look like the world is controlled by massive corporations and governments hostile to the things of God or by rich and powerful people who oppose the Gospel. The psalmist described how the nations were “restless” and “the peoples plott[ed] in vain.” Their leaders thought nothing of defying God and ignoring His Word (v. 1). Pondering the…
“Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.” – Romans 16:18 NLT Stradivarius violins, made in the eighteenth century in Cremona, Italy, are among today’s most valuable musical instruments. The sound they produce has improved with age. Only about 650 exist. They are so rare that one recently sold at auction for nearly $16 million! Perhaps because they are so valuable, the market is flooded with imitations. Some owners innocently conclude that they have found a violin that might be a Stradivarius. One…
“Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.” – Romans 16:12 CSB Tryphaena and Tryphosa were so important to Paul that he greeted them by name in his letter to the Romans. Some scholars think they were sisters and possibly twins. They might have been church leaders. But what particularly distinguished them was that they “worked hard in the Lord.” They weren’t alone. Like these two women, Paul’s friend Persis also worked very hard. The dedicated effort of these people made a dramatic impact.…
“Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.” – Romans 16:10 Who was Apelles? This verse is the only reference to him in the Bible. Therefore, the only thing we know is that Paul thought highly of him, and he was “approved in Christ.” Theologian Donald Barnhouse explained that the word translated approved is related to banking. In the ancient world, “all money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into molds, and allowed to cool.” After the coins were cooled, the uneven edges were smoothed off. Because the material was so pliable, disreputable people could shave coins and produce counterfeits. This…
“Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient … so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and relax in your company.” – Romans 15:30–32 NASB Writing to believers in Rome, Paul stressed the importance of prayer. He described a kind of prayer that was not vague but specific. He urged them to join him in praying for particular problems he faced and specific needs in the body of Christ. He taught them that to be effective, their prayers needed to…
“I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me … From Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” – Romans 15:18–19 NIV As a seminary student, Carl Bowman studied his assigned text carefully: Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:14–21). After suitable preparation, he felt ready and delivered a message to his peers and his professor, David Nyvall. Bowman was satisfied with the results but could tell Nyvall was not pleased. Remaining silent, Nyvall continued looking at his Greek Testament and finally spoke: “That was like…
“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12 NASB The Bible describes a powerful weapon that can change our lives. It is light. It was no accident that on the first day of creation, God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Light was fundamental for creation. And it was no accident that Jesus said He is “the Light of the world” (John 8:12). Light is an agent of revelation. Darkness hides, but light reveals. The brighter the light,…
“I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” – Romans 12:1 NLT Frances Havergal was a precocious child. Born in England in 1836, she started reading when she was three. The daughter of a hymn writer, she memorized much of the Bible. She also developed a passion to spread the Gospel. This passion was stirred when she visited a home where some were unconverted. Others were “converted but did…
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! […] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” – Romans 11:33, 36 Deep into his letter to the Romans, Paul seemed to pause. Having detailed so many insights about the Gospel, he seemed to have reached the end of his vocabulary. Amazed by what he had learned about God, he expressed being overwhelmed with the process of trying to explain these insights. He realized God’s wisdom and knowledge are profound.…
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.” – Romans 10:12 NASB Paul wanted the Romans to understand that God abounds in riches! This means He does not lack anything! He has an abundance of everything! What kinds of riches? These are spiritual riches—salvation, peace, eternal life, forgiveness, power and authority, healing, access to His presence, and all the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). But there is more! He is ready to meet all our needs—financial and emotional, mental and practical,…
“The word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:8–9 NASB Even mature Christians can find themselves depending on their reputations and experiences, relationships and abilities, and position or status. But Paul taught that before God, none of these things matter. He made it clear: We are not saved because of anything we do or justified because of our works. The key is faith alone. We must act on faith. We must confess…
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31 We face many kinds of adversaries, rivals, and opposition. We face emotional and physical confrontations, stress and pressure, and competition for jobs, awards, or prizes. The political world is full of rivalries battling through elections and campaign ads. Communities and nations often find themselves in adversarial relationships. Armies square off for dominance. Businesses struggle for market share. But the most important opposition we have is spiritual. As the Bible confirms, Satan and his demonic forces oppose us in any…
“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NASB The man was excited when he landed a job with a major public relations (PR) firm. But that excitement faded when, after a few months, his position was eliminated. Devastated, he felt worthless and embarrassed. When he got home, he shared the news with his wife. He expected her to react with fear or anxiety. Instead, she conveyed a sense of confidence, responding, “Well, something will turn up.” Her confidence…
“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations.” – Romans 6:19 NIV As Paul knew, we all have unique vocabularies. Our words can be influenced by many things—social context, song lyrics and news stories, social media and conversations, and interactions with others. Our unique experiences and relationships help shape the words we use and what has meaning to us. As this background reminds us, it can be easy to be influenced by the biases of others. We can accept what might sound believable or go along with what seems popular. As a result, Paul chose…
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4 Many Christians fail to experience the fulness God offers. They may go to church, pray, and read their Bibles but still feel discouraged and frustrated. They haven’t received the fulfillment of the promises they read and feel like they are missing something. Some feel trapped by their heritage and habits or the influences they experience in the world. Many become content with…
