Sermons

“Love and Thankfulness” Acts 5:12-16 Now many signs and wonders… read more

Jesus’ joy is one of His best gifts to us, and not something to miss. He died for our sins, yes—and He has risen for our eternal life, joy, and blessedness with Him forever. Thanks be to God!

So where was Jesus? The angels didn’t tell them that. They would have to find out for themselves.
And where should they look? Not among the dead. Among the living, then. And they took off running.

Like many people, I have voicemails and videos I will never erase. They are the only way I will ever see or hear again the voice of people I love who have died.

We usually treat the two criminals in this story as a contrasting pair. One takes out his pain and anger on an innocent bystander, Jesus. The other rebukes him and speaks politely.

“Not a very effective one.” As the rulers put it, “He saved others; why can’t He save Himself?” Where’s the power and glory now, Jesus? Why can’t You get down off that cross?

They might have realized they were killing an innocent man. They had no idea they were killing the Son of Man—the Son of God—God Himself. How do you measure that?

Simon didn’t know then that the real substitution was the other way around. Jesus was taking Simon’s place—bearing the weight of Simon’s sin and wrongdoing, all his shame and guilt and brokenness.

I wonder what Barabbas thought when the jailer came to open his cell.
Did he think he was going to the cross? Did he struggle?
How long was it before he truly believed he was going free?