Table of contents of devotions on our Web site:

Series on the Apostle's Creed

1. God the Father Almighty
2. The Creator of Heaven and Earth
3. The Identity of Jesus Christ
4. Jesus Was Born For Us!
5. Jesus' Suffering Before His Crucifixion
6. Jesus' Crucifixion, Death, and Burial
7. Jesus is Risen!
8. Who Is The Holy Spirit?
9. The Fruit of the Spirit

Series on Discipleship

The Bible

Prayer

Worship & Fellowship

Spiritual Warfare

Evangelism

Series on Eschatology

1. An Introduction to the End Times
2. The Last Days Are Here!
3. Signs of the Times
4. Waiting with Hope for the Bridegroom and the Judge
5. The Resurrection
6. Coping with Evil Powers
7. The Believer's Destination

The Bible is Worth Studying

Characteristics of the Bible

2. The Bible comes from God:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version)

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV)

3. The Bible is without error:

"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." (Psalms 119:160 NIV)

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." (Proverbs 30:5 NIV)

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17 NIV)

4. The Bible is powerful:

"so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11 NIV)

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16 NIV)

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

5. The Bible is eternal:

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands for ever.' And this is the word that was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV)

"Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." (Matthew 5:17-18 NIV)

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How to Study God's Word

"No one ever graduates from Bible study until he meets the Author face to face." (Everett T. Harris in The Christian Herald, quoted in 12,000 Religious Quotations by Frank S. Mead, p. 28)

NOTE: The following 5-step method is taken from the Navigators, as explained in Personal Disciplemaking by Christopher B. Adsit, pp. 238-239.

1. Hear the Word

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17 NIV)

Helps: Take notes during messages. Listen to tapes while commuting and working.

2. Read the Word

"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Revelation 1:3 NIV)

Helps: Select a plan appropriate for your stage in life to read through a book of the Bible in a month or the whole Bible in a year or two.

3. Study the Word

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11 NIV)

Helps: Join a group Bible study or schedule study time each week on a subject of personal interest.

4. Memorize the Word

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalms 119:11 NIV)

Helps: Memorize verses that have significance for you. Work on one verse a week or a month to begin with. Post the verse where you will see it daily. Review it frequently.

5. Meditate on the Word

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalms 1:1-3 NIV)

Helps: (Adapted from Come Walk With Me by Carole Mayhall, p. 51-56)

Use the A-E-I-O-U method:
A= Ask questions about the verse's meaning.
E= Emphasize different words in the verse as you repeat it.
I= Illustrate the verse from other reading or life experiences.
O= Other Bible verses can be found as cross-references.
U= Use the verse in conversation and put it into practice.

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Benefits of Studying the Bible

"The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts." (George Mueller, quoted in A Handbook for Christian Maturity by Bill Bright, p. 189)

1. The Bible shows the way to salvation:

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31 NIV)

"and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15 NIV)

2. The Bible gives access to guidance:

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalms 119:105 NIV)

"When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you." (Proverbs 6:22 NIV)

3. The Bible is a resource for spiritual growth:

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2 NIV)

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:13-14 NIV)

4. The Word equips:

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17 NIV)

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

5. The Bible helps keep us from sin:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalms 119:9,11 NIV)

Jesus used Scripture to resist Satan's temptations of him:

Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Matthew 4:4,7,10 NIV)

6. Knowledge of the Bible leads to blessed obedience:

"By them [the commands] is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." (Psalms 19:11 NIV)

"[Jesus] replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" (Luke 11:28 NIV)

7. The Bible is a source of joy, hope, and comfort:

"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." (Psalms 19:8 NIV)

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4 NIV)

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. . . .I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them." (Psalms 119:50, 52 NIV)

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Our Response to The Bible

"Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some person ever reads." (W.J. Toms, The Detroit News quoted in 12,000 Religious Quotations by Frank S. Mead, p. 33)

1. Believe it:

"Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You [Jesus] have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'" (John 6:68-69 NIV)

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31 NIV)

2. Stay in contact with it:

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV)

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." (John 8:31 NIV)

3. Obey it:

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21 NIV)

"But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him." (1 John 2:5 NIV)

4. Let it live in you:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16 NIV)

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

5. Use it properly:

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19 NIV)

6. Share it with others:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV)

7. Produce spiritual fruit:

"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. . . The farmer sows the word. . . .Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:3,14,20 NIV)

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Jesus Was Born For Us!

"I believe in Jesus Christ. . .who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary."
(From: "Apostles' Creed", Psalter Hymnal, 1987, by CRC Publications, p. 813)


God Promised Jesus' Birth
God Prepared for Jesus' Birth
God Presented Jesus at His Birth
God Presents Jesus to Us and We Must Respond

God Promised Jesus' Birth

The Lord God said when time was full,

He would shine his light in the darkness.

He said a virgin would conceive

and give birth to the Promise.

For a thousand years the dreamers dreamt,

and hoped to see His love.

But the Promise showed their wildest dreams

had simply not been wild enough.

The Promise was love and the Promise was life;

the Promise meant light to the world.

Living proof Jehovah saves

for the name of the Promise was Jesus.

The faithful One saw time was full,

and the ancient pledge was honored.

So God the Son, the Incarnate One,

His final word, His own Son

Was born in Bethlehem,

but came into our hearts to live.

What more could God have given, tell me

what more did He have to give?

The Promise was love and the Promise was life;

the Promise meant light to the world.

Living proof Jehovah saves

for the name of the Promise was Jesus.

1. God said Jesus would be born of David's family line:

a. Prophecy:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV)

b. Fulfillment:

"A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:" (Matthew 1:1 NIV)

"Then I [John] heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb [Jesus] be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:13 NIV)


2. God said Jesus would be born of a virgin as "God with us":

a. Prophecy:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

b. Fulfillment:

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. . . .the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." (Luke 1:26-27,30-31 NIV)

"All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'-- which means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:22-23 NIV)


3. God said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem:

a. Prophecy:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2 NIV)

b. Fulfillment:

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born." (Luke 2:4-6 NIV)


4. God said Jesus' birth would trigger the slaughter of children:

a. Prophecy:

This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." (Jeremiah 31:15 NIV)

b. Fulfillment:

"When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.'" (Matthew 2:16-18 NIV)

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God Prepared for Jesus' Birth

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . .The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1,14 NIV)

The opening music of the heavenly spheres

Has not yet sounded, nor has come to light

The texture, intricacy, color-flight

Of cosmos, introducing history's years,

And yet, already God transcendent sears

The Void with holy splendor, glory bright,

No shadows known, no meaning yet to night,

Sans shade, sans death, sans sin, sans hate, sans tears.

God's Self-Expression, his own Son, his Word

Joins with his Father, clothed with light of bliss,

In solemn covenant, resolve assured,

To save the lost who do not yet exist.

Transcendent Deity now deigns to mesh

With finite clay: the Word takes on our flesh.

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord [Jesus]." (Luke 1:12-17 NIV)

2. God prepared Mary, Jesus' mother, for Jesus' birth:

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.'
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.'
'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth [the mother of John the Baptist] your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.'
'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'" Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:26-38 NIV)

3. God prepared Joseph, Mary's husband, for Jesus' birth:

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'" (Matthew 1:18-21 NIV)

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God Presented Jesus at His Birth

What might have been in the news:

"Make Travel Reservations Early! Bethlehem Overflows with Visitors!"
"Woman Gives Birth in a Stable!"
"Angels Visit Shepherds! Who is Next?"
"Commotion At Innkeeper's Manger!"
"Starstruck Wisemen Keep Herod in the Dark!"

1. Mary gives birth to Jesus:

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 NIV)

2. God presented Jesus to the shepherds:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.'
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:8-16 NIV)

3. God presented Jesus to the Magi:

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written: "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."'
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.'
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:1-12 NIV)

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God Presents Jesus to Us and We Must Respond

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." (1 John 4:9 NIV)

1. Let us adore the promised Jesus:

It Is as if Infancy Were the Whole of Incarnation

One time of the year

the new-born child is everywhere,

planted in madonnas' arms,

hay mows, stables,

in palaces or farms,

or quaintly, under snowed gables,

gothic angular or baroque plump,

naked or elaborately swathed,

encircled by Della Robbia wreaths,

garnished with whimsical partridges and pears,

drummers and drums,

lit by oversize stars,

partnered with lambs,

peace doves, sugar plums,

bells, plastic camels in sets of three

as if these were what we need

for eternity.

But Jesus the Man is not to be seen.

We are too wary, these days,

of beards and sandalled feet.

Yet if we celebrate, let it be

that he

has invaded our lives with purpose,

striding over our picturesque traditions,

our shallow sentiment,

overturning our cash registers,

wielding his peace like a sword,

rescuing us into reality,

demanding much more

than the milk and the softness

and the mother warmth

of the baby in the storefront creche,

(only the Man would ask

all, of each of us)

reaching out

always, urgently, with strong effective love

(only the Man would give his life

and live again for love of us).

Oh come, let us adore him--

Christ--the Lord.

Joy to the World

Joy to the world!

The Lord is come:

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart

Prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing.

Give One Gift to Christ This Christmas:

Forgive someone.

Let go of a habit.

Begin a holy habit.

Love someone who doesn't love you.

Accept the circumstances you are in, by faith.

Bow down before Him.

Worship Him.

Praise Him.

Adore Him!

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What is Prayer?

Numerous formats for prayer are possible--in fact, prayer is as unique as each person--but all prayer has as a central purpose the opportunity to express yourself fully and honestly to the Lord, to listen for His reply (very often in the form of insight, assurance, and joy), and to participate in the 'mystery' of seeing God's purposes on earth accomplished. Prayer offers an opportunity for Christian fellowship and guidance for the church." (The Woman's Study Bible, p. 2090)


An Invitation to Pray
Personal Prayer and Corporate Prayer (Praying Together)
A Prayer Plan
Prayer Attitudes

An Invitation to Pray

"Every page of [Scripture] encourages prayer. God will have us pray, and he will answer prayer. . . .He delights to hear our prayers; he will not weary with our often coming."
(Dwight L. Moody, as quoted in Classics Devotional Bible, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996], p. 1000)

1. God invites seekers and believers to pray to him:

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, New International Version)

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (Psalms 91:14-16 NIV)

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV)

2. God commands believers to pray and promises to answer:

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Colossians 4:2 NIV)

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)

3. The source of confidence in prayer is Jesus Christ:

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6 NIV)

a. Through Jesus' work of salvation:

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

"and since we have a great priest [Jesus] over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:21-22 NIV)

b. In Jesus' name:

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14 NIV)

"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:24 NIV)

4. God provides help in our prayers:

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32 NIV)

a. Jesus prays for us:

"But because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV)

b. The Holy Spirit prays for us:

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

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Personal Prayer and Corporate Prayer (Praying Together)

"Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might." (Charles Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, p. 178)

1. Personal prayer:
Our relationship with God grows in intimacy proportionately to the time we spend with him in prayer.

a. The principle:

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." (Matthew 6:6, The Message)

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalms 5:2-3 NIV)

b. Biblical examples:

Jesus:
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35 NIV)

David:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalms 51:10-12 NIV)

Paul:
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:16-19a NIV)

2. Corporate prayer:
The power of prayer is multiplied when believers pray together.

a. The principle:

"Glorify the LORD with me: let us exalt his name together." (Psalms 34:3 NIV)

"Again, I [Jesus] tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV)

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. . .Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:13,16 NIV)

b. Biblical examples:

Israel in the time of Solomon:
"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel. . . He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands towards heaven. . .
He said: 'O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. . .Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open towards this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays towards this place.'" (2 Chronicles 6:12,13b,14,19-20 NIV)

Jesus' disciples:
"When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." (Acts 1:13-14 NIV)

The early church:
"'Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (Acts 4:29-31 NIV)

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A Prayer Plan

A simple way to organize personal prayer is around the acrostic ACTSS, representing: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, and Surrender. Jesus' gave the Lord's Prayer [below], which contains most of these elements, to the disciples as a pattern for prayer.

"This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, [adoration]
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [surrender]
Give us today our daily bread. [supplication]
Forgive us our debts, [confession]
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one, [supplication]
for yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever.Amen'" [adoration]
(Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)

1. Adoration: Adoration is praising the Lord for who he is.

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." (Psalms 150:1-6 NIV)

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?' 'Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36 NIV)

2. Confession: Confession is admitting our sins to God and asking for his forgiveness.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9 NIV)

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD' --and you forgave the guilt of my sin." (Psalms 32:5 NIV)

3. Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is thanking the Lord for what he does.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20 NIV)


4. Supplication: Supplication is humbly asking God to act, either for oneself (petition) or for others (intercession).

a. Petition:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

b. Intercession:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone." (1 Timothy 2:1 NIV)


5. Surrender: Surrender is submitting your will to God's will, acknowledging God's authority over you.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

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Prayer Attitudes

NOTE: These are suggested goals, not absolute requirements:

"We will never have pure enough motives, or be good enough, or know enough in order to pray rightly. We simply must set all these things aside and begin praying. In fact, it is in the very act of prayer itself--the intimate, ongoing interaction with God--that these matters are cared for in due time." (Richard J. Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, p. 8)

1. Spend some time in silence:

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10 NIV)

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." (Psalms 37:7a NIV)

2. Exercise faith:

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:5-8 NIV)

3. Clear away unconfessed sin:

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV)

4. Examine motives for prayer:

"You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3 NIV)

5. Clear and focus the mind:

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." (1 Peter 4:7 NIV)

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV)

6. Use meaningful words:

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7 NIV)

7. Remember God's answers to prayer can be "yes," "wait," and "no":
(See "surrender" in Week Three, point 5.)

a. "Yes":

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. . .Then Peter came to himself and said, 'Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.' When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. . . Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished." (Acts 12:5,11-12,16 NIV)

b. "Wait":

"A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, 'Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.' And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.'" (Daniel 10:10-13 NIV)

c. "No":

"To keep me [Paul] from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV)


NOTE: See also the devotion on "How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say" with ideas for incorporating Scripture in your prayers.

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Jesus' Suffering Before His Crucifixion

Prophecies of Jesus' Suffering

1. The Old Testament prophecied about the suffering Servant (Jesus):
(NOTE: This passage is just one of many prophecies about Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection in the Old Testament.)

"See, my servant will act wisely;

he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him--

his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man

and his form marred beyond human likeness--

so will he sprinkle many nations

[with the blood of his sacrifice],

and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

For what they were not told, they will see,

and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

He [Jesus] grew up before him [the LORD] like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

And who can speak of his descendants?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with the rich in his death,

though he had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in his mouth."

a. During his ministry:

1.) Jesus said he would die:

Jesus took the Twelve [disciples] aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be turned over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. (Luke 18:31-34 NIV)

2.) Jesus said he would live again:

"Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?'
Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.'. . . But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:18-19, 21-22 NIV)


b. At the Last Supper, the night before his death:
(Read more about the Last Supper in Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-38; and John 13-16.)

1.) Jesus said he would die:

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it; this is my body.'
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,' he said to them. 'I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.'" (Mark 14:22-25 NIV)

2.) Jesus said he would live again:

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no-one will take away your joy." (John 16:22 NIV)

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The Setting of Jesus' Suffering

1. The plots against Jesus:

a. The religious leaders plotted against his life:

"Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him." (Matthew 26:3-4 NIV)

b. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, plotted to betray him:
(Read more about Judas' betrayal in: Matthew 26:21-25; 27:3-10 and Mark 14:18-21 and Luke 22:21-23 and John 13:21-30.)

"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve [disciples]. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present." (Luke 22:1-6 NIV)

"[Judas] asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins." (Matthew 26:15 NIV)


2. Jesus' voluntarily submitted to the suffering plotted against him:

a. He stated this during his ministry:

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-- only to take it up again. No-one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:17-18 NIV)

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45 NIV)

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8 NIV)

b. He prayed this submission in Gethsemane before his arrest:
(Part of Jesus' prayer is also recorded in John 17.)

"They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,' he said to them. 'Stay here and keep watch.'
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup [of suffering] from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Simon,' he said to Peter, 'are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.'
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!'" (Mark 14:32-42 NIV, italics added)


Meditation on Jesus' prayer:

"One man, totally alone, is swaying back and forth as if dizzy, his face in his hands. . .
'Abba, Father, I don't want to do this. Please! You can do anything; then take this cup [of suffering] away from me--. . .
Hell is in that cup! Death and Damnation are in that cup! My Father, my Father, it will tear me away from you! No, I don't want to do this! No! Sin is in that cup--and if I drink it you won't look at me, you will loathe me. . .
Nevertheless. . . not what I want. . .what you want. . .do.'

. . .And when he returns to his friends the final time, waking them with the news of his own betrayal--'Rise, let us be going'--this, in that hour, is what the solitary man [Jesus] is doing: drinking. Drinking."
(Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992], pp. 63, 64)

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Jesus' Suffering at His Arrest

The Bible account:

"When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?'
'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied.
'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, 'Who is it you want?'
And they said, 'Jesus of Nazareth.'
'I told you that I am he,' Jesus answered. 'If you are looking for me, then let these men go.' This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: 'I have not lost one of those you gave me.'
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'" (John 18:1-11 NIV)

"But Jesus answered, 'No more of this!' And he touched the man's ear and healed him." (Luke 22:51 NIV)

"Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.' Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him." (Mark 14:44-46 NIV)


Meditation on Jesus' arrest:

"There comes an orange snake eastward through the night. A snake of fire, a long snake of torches. Perhaps the disciples glance down from the Mount of Olives and see it and do not understand. . . It is a fatal snake. It kills by kissing. . .

The binding strength of that snake is the armed guard of the Temple and the police of the Sanhedrin [the Jewish high court]. Behold how the servants of God can bite!

But the head of the snake is one of the twelve, a disciple of Jesus. Behold how an intimate may kiss for other reasons than affection and respect. . .
And even so, with the meekest of gestures, has the war for the world been engaged. With a kiss. And the kiss has a tooth. And the snake that struck the Lord has a back of fire and a body of human opinion."
(Wangerin, pp. 68-70)

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Jesus' Suffering at His Trials

1. Jesus was falsely accused and sentenced at his religious trials:
(Note: Notice that the verdict against Jesus was decided in advance.)

a. Before Annas:

"They brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. . .Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching." (John 18:13-14,19 NIV)

b. Before Caiaphas [the high priest] and the Sanhedrin [the Jewish high court]:
(Read about Peter's denials of Jesus while waiting during this trial in: Matthew 26:31-35, 58, 69-75 and Mark 14:27-31, 54, 66-72 and Luke 22:31-38, 54b-62 and John 13:37-38; 18:15-18, 25-27.)

"Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. . . .
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered. Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?" (Matthew 26:57, 59-68 NIV)

Note: The religious leaders recognized that Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah (the Christ). However, Jesus was innocent of blasphemy, because he was who he said he was. Ironically, it was Jesus' accusers who were blaspheming against Jesus as they abused him. Jesus was claiming he would fulfil the prophecy of Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV):

"In my vision at night I looked,

and there before me was one like a son of man,

coming with the clouds of heaven.

He approached the Ancient of Days

and was led into his presence.

He was given authority, glory and sovereign power;

all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away,

and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

c. The verdict:

"Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death." (Matthew 27:1 NIV)


2. Jesus was abused and falsely accused at his civil trials:

a. Before Pontius Pilate:
(For the most complete account of this trial, read John 18:28-38.)

"Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.'
So Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied.
Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no basis for a charge against this man.'
But they insisted, 'He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.'
On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean." (Luke 23:1-6 NIV)

b. Before Herod:

"When [Pilate] learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then 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 23:7-12 NIV)

c. Before Pilate and the people:

"Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, 'You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.'
With one voice they cried out, 'Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!' (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'
For the third time he spoke to them: 'Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.'
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." (Luke 23:13-23 NIV, italics added)

"When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility!'
All the people answered, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified." (Matthew 27:24-26 NIV)

d. The verdict:

"It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. 'Here is your king,' Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, 'Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!' 'Shall I crucify your king?' Pilate asked. 'We have no king but Caesar,' the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. (John 19:14-16 NIV)


3. Although he was convicted and sentenced by two courts, Jesus was innocent of the charges against him:

"If I were presenting this brief in a court of law, I would tell the jury that the evidence will show that the above facts are believable, based upon accepted ancient writings, archaeological evidence, and common sense. Furthermore, as we learn more about the evidence and the criminal law of the day, we will prove that the so-called Jewish trial was illegal according to the court's own procedures and that Jesus of Nazareth was not guilty of any crime against the Roman Empire."

("Summation" by Dale M. Foreman, Crucify Him: A Lawyer Looks at the Trial of Jesus, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990])



What does Jesus' suffering have to do with me?

Jesus suffered all of these things for the purpose of saving those who believe in him from their sins!

"Although he [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9 NIV)


How should I respond to Jesus' suffering?

1. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, click on the links
"I'd like to know more about Jesus" and "Steps to Salvation" (below)
to begin this important relationship today.

2. If you already know Jesus as your Savior and Redeemer, offer thanks to Jesus for his willingness to suffer for you:

"There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.

Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit 'til the work on earth is done."

Jesus, my Redeemer, Name above all names,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain.

Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit 'til the work on earth is done."

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19 NIV)


4. Know that since Jesus suffered himself, he is able to understand us and help us in all circumstances:

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

NOTE: See "Jesus' Crucifixion, Death, and Burial" for the rest of the account of Jesus' death and his resurrection and ascension to glory.

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Jesus' Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

(Michael Green, Who is This Jesus?, [Nashville, TN: Oliver-Nelson Books, 1990, 1992], p. 69)


NOTE: Click on the link below for background information on this devotion.
Jesus' Suffering Before His Crucifixion


Jesus Was Crucified-Part 1
Jesus Was Crucified-Part 2
Jesus' Body Was Buried
The Significance of Jesus' Death

Jesus Was Crucified-Part 1

(NOTE: The full account of Jesus' crucifixion can be found in: Matthew 27:32-56 and Mark 15:21-41 and Luke 23:26-51 and John 19:16-37.)

1. Jesus was taken to the cross:

"Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers round him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it." (Matthew 27:27-34 New International Version)

2. Jesus was crucified:

"When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left." (Matthew 27:35-38 NIV)

3. Jesus was mocked:

a. By the passers-by:

"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!'" (Matthew 27:39-40 NIV)

b. By the religious leaders:

"In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, "I am the Son of God."'" (Matthew 27:41-43 NIV)

c. By the soldiers:

"The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.'" (Luke 23:36-37 NIV)

d. By a criminal:

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)


4. Women stayed with Jesus:

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple [John], 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." (John 19:25-27 NIV)

"Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there." (Mark 15:40-41 NIV)


5. Meditation: "A Prayer of Reflection on the Last Words of Christ":


"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34a NIV)
Lord, I hold on to a grudge like it was a treasure, but it rots my soul. Help me to let go of what I can't control and learn to forgive.

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43 NIV)
Like the thief to whom You promised eternal life, I believe in Your ability to save me. Help my unbelief.

"He said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.'" (John 19:26-27 NIV)
When I hurt, I think only of myself. Give me an unselfish heart to see and care for others who are hurting.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 NIV)
It was for me that You were forsaken. Help me to let go of the unanswered "why's" in my life and to find peace in knowing that You are my God.

"I am thirsty." (John 19:28 NIV)
Give me an unquenchable thirst to know You, my Lord.

"It is finished." (John 19:30 NIV)
I can never add to what you have done for me. My salvation is complete. Help me to know the joy of Your grace as I serve You.

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46 NIV)
I want to surrender everything in my life to You. Teach me what that means for each new day, and give me the will to do what I know I need to do. Amen.

(Poetic reading from Christ in Easter:A Family Celebration of Holy Week, [Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1991], under "Good Friday/The Crucifixion")

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Jesus Was Crucified-Part 2

"And this, precisely, is the bitterest drop in the cup: that, crying down eternity unheard, separated absolutely from God--from the God he cannot help but love even still--Jesus is in Hell. The darkness that covers Jerusalem from noon to the middle of the afternoon, it is no less than the damnation of the Messiah, who wails and gnashes his teeth in an utter solitude from now (so it must seem) unto eternity. Hell is eternal. And he has descended into Hell."
(Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992], pp. 63, 64)

NOTE: Jesus did not remain in hell. He promised the believing criminal that they would be in paradise together that day:
"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:43 NIV)


1. Darkness descended for three hours:

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' --which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:45-46 NIV)

2. The symbolism of darkness is:

a. Separation from God:

"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew 22:13 NIV)

"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 NIV)

b. Judgment of sin:

"They have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people; his hand is raised and he strikes them down. . . .In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be darkened by the clouds." (Isaiah 5:24b, 25a, 30 NIV)

"But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. . . .These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them." (2 Peter 2:12, 17 NIV)

c. Spiritual battle with evil forces:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

"I [Jesus] will rescue you [Paul] from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:17-18 NIV)


3. Jesus' gave up his life:

"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:28-30 NIV)

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46 NIV)


4. Signs accompanied Jesus' death:

a. The temple curtain before the Most Holy Place tore in two:

"The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (Mark 15:38 NIV)

The meaning of the sign is the removal of the spiritual barrier between God and people:

"And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place [God's presence] by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body." (Hebrews 10:18-20 NIV)

b. The earth shook:

"The earth shook and the rocks split." (Matthew 27:51b NIV)

The meaning of the sign is that God has the power to judge sin:

"I [John] watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. . .
The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (Revelation 6:12a, 14-17 NIV)

c. Some Old Testament saints came to life:

"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matthew 27:52-53 NIV)

The meaning of the sign is that the dead will be resurrected in the future:

"I [Job] know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" (Job 19:25-27 NIV)

d. The Roman centurion believed in Jesus:

"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!'" (Matthew 27:54 NIV)

"The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'" (Luke 23:47 NIV)

The meaning of the sign is that the Gentiles will believe in Jesus:

"The centurion sees better than he did, and more than he ever did before: he sees God! He sees the very nature of the love of God! The dying of one [Jesus] is the other one's window, and what has been veiled is now revealed, and a pagan whispers with the solemn weight of conviction, confession, faith: 'Truly, this man was the Son of God!'"
(Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992], p. 134, emphasis added)

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Jesus' Body Was Buried

"O my God, Jesus, I am in every way unworthy of you. Yet, like Joseph of Arimathea, I want to offer a space for you. He offered his own tomb; I offer my heart.
Enter the darkness of my heart, as your body entered the darkness of Joseph's tomb. And make me worthy to receive you, driving out all sin that I may be filled with your spiritual light."

(Bonaventura, "Prayers on the Death of Christ," Classics Devotional Bible, [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996], p. 1266)

1. Jesus was verified to be dead:

"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The man who saw it [John] has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken,'[Psalm 34:20] and, as another scripture says, 'They will look on the one they have pierced' [Zechariah 12:10]." (John 19:31-37 NIV)

2. Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus' body:

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night [John 3]. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs." (John 19:38-40 NIV)

3. Jesus' body was placed in Joseph's new tomb:

"At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no-one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus there." (John 19:41-42 NIV)

4. The tomb was sealed shut:

a. By Joseph:

"So Joseph. . . rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb." (Mark 15:46b NIV)

b. By Pilate:

"The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 'Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise again." So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'
'Take a guard,' Pilate answered. 'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard." (Matthew 27:62-66 NIV)


5. Jesus' burial in a new tomb was significant:

a. Jesus' body was preserved from decay:

"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." (Acts 2:26-28 NIV)

b. The tomb fulfilled prophecy:

"He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9, NIV)


6. The women planned to return to the tomb after the Sabbath:

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment." (Luke 23:55-56 NIV)

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The Significance of Jesus' Death

"All things were altered by Christ's passion, past and future. Time and space are no longer barriers which separate us from one another, but ways of communion, paths by which we may come to meet one another in the life which flows from the side of Christ. Injury itself, evil and wrong, all that can cause men and women to hate and destroy one another, that too is overcome, for with life there comes forgiveness, the life-giving power of reconciliation and peace."
(Arthur Macdonald Allchin, The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, [New York, NY: Doubleday, 1997], p. 228)

1. Jesus sacrificed himself for us:

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV)

"Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7b NIV)

"Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2 NIV)


2. Jesus' sacrifice paid for our sin, which deserved the death penalty:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NIV)

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

"The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29 NIV)

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)


3. Jesus reconciled us (restored our relationship) with God:

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV)

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11 NIV)


4. Jesus paved the way for peace between people:

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two [Jew and Gentile] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." (Ephesians 2:13-16 NIV)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)



SUGGESTIONS for responding to Jesus' sacrificial death:

1. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, click on the links
"I'd like to know more about Jesus" and "Steps to Salvation" (below)
to begin this important relationship today.

2. If you do know Jesus as your Savior, humble yourself before the cross:

"How do you humble yourself before the cross?

Just take a look up into the night sky.

Jesus, who set suns and stars spinning in motion,

who dreamed up not just our galaxy. . .

but a billion other galaxies. . .

Jesus who held together by his word

the very sinews and joints in the hands

that hammered spikes in to his wrists;

this same Jesus bore his Father's wrath

against you and your sin when he hung on the cross.

Amazing love!"

"Though our Saviour's passion is over, his compassion is not."
(Willam Penn, The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, p. 151)


NOTE: Hold onto your hope! We also explore Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven. God did not leave Jesus in the tomb!

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Jesus is Risen!

"I believe in Jesus Christ. . .The third day he rose again from the dead.He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father, almighty."
(From: "Apostles' Creed", Psalter Hymnal, 1987, by CRC Publications, p. 813)


"Taking all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is no single historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ."
(Bruce Foss Westcott, The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, [New York, NY: Doubleday, 1997], p. 199)

Jesus is Alive!
Jesus Appeared to Believers After He Rose from the Dead
Jesus Gave the Great Commission and Ascended to Heaven
What is So Important About Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension?

Jesus is Alive!

1. The tomb opened:

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." (Matthew 28:2-4 NIV)

2. Women came to the tomb:

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?' But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man [an angel] dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you [Mark 14:28]."'
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." (Mark 16:1-8 NIV)

3. The women reported to the disciples:

"When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." (Luke 24:9-11 NIV)

4. Peter and John visit the tomb:

"So Peter and the other disciple [John] started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)" (John 20:3-9 NIV)

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Jesus Appeared to Believers After He Rose from the Dead

"Jesus. Have you seen him? Those who first did were never the same.
'My Lord and my God!' cried Thomas.
'I have seen the Lord,' exclaimed Mary Magdalene.
'We have seen his glory,' declared John.
'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked?'
rejoiced the two Emmaus-bound disciples.
But Peter said it best. 'We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.'

His majesty. The emperor of Judea. The soaring eagle of eternity. The noble admiral of the Kingdom. All the splendor of heaven revealed in a human body. For a period ever so brief, the doors to the throne room were open and God came near. His Majesty was seen. Heaven touched the earth and, as a result, earth can know heaven."
(Max Lucado, God Came Near, [Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1987], p. 7)


1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene:

"Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?'
'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put him.' At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
'Woman,' he said, 'why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?'
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.'
Jesus said to her, 'Mary.'
She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said, 'Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."'" (John 20:11-17 NIV)

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." (John 10:14 NIV)


2. Jesus appeared to the women:

"Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'" (Matthew 28:9-10 NIV)


3. Jesus appeared to two men on the Emmaus road:

"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him.
He asked them, 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?'
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?'
'What things?' he asked.
'About Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.'
He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going further. But they urged him strongly, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread." (Luke 24:13-35 NIV)


4. Jesus appeared to ten disciples in Jerusalem:
NOTE: Jesus had a body. The disciples could touch him, and he could eat.

"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence." (Luke 24:36-43 NIV)


5. Jesus appeared to eleven disciples in Jerusalem:

"Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.'
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'
Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'
Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:24-29 NIV)


6. Jesus appeared to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee:

"Afterwards Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias [Galilee]. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 'I'm going out to fish,' Simon Peter told them, and they said, 'We'll go with you.' So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, 'Friends, haven't you any fish?'

'No,' they answered.
He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord,' he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.'
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead." (John 21:1-14 NIV)


7. A Summary of Jesus' appearances after his resurrection:

"For what I [Paul] received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time [possibly at his ascension--see #2 below], most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me [Paul--see Acts 9] also, as to one abnormally born." (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV)


Recommended Reading: Who Moved the Stone? by Frank Morison. Zondervan Publishing House has reprinted the 1930 edition, published by Faber and Faber in London, England.

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Jesus Gave the Great Commission and Ascended to Heaven

"The ascension of Christ is his liberation from all restrictions of time and space. It does not represent his removal from the earth, but his constant presence everywhere on earth [through the Holy Spirit]."
(William Temple, The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, p. 223)

"Where is Jesus? Up in heaven and in my heart." (Pastor Tim, Palm Sunday March 28, 1999)


1. Jesus' gives his last charges to his disciples:

a. He taught them how the Scriptures related to him:

"He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, 'This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.'" (Luke 24:44-49 NIV)

b. He gave them the "Great Commission":

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:16-20 NIV)

(NOTE: Jesus would always be with them through the Holy Spirit, promised in the next passage.)

c. He told them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit:

"After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. . . .
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 1:3-5, 8 NIV)

(NOTE: Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in Acts 2.)


2. Jesus ascended to heaven:

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven." (Luke 24:50-51 NIV)

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white [angels] stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11 NIV)


3. Jesus is reigning in glory now in heaven:

"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear [at Pentecost]." (Acts 2:32-33 NIV)

"I [Paul] pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV)

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)

"The Son [Jesus] is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty [God the Father] in heaven." (Hebrews 1:3 NIV)

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What is So Important About Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension?

"No Resurrection. No Christianity."
(Arthur Michael Ramsey, The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, p. 309)

1. Without Jesus' resurrection we have no hope:

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." (1 Corinthians 15:14-23 NIV)


2. Jesus' resurrection means hope for believers' resurrection and eternal life with Jesus:

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (Romans 8:11 NIV)

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25-26 NIV)

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV)

"Then I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband [Jesus Christ]. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" (Revelation 21:1-4 NIV)


3. Jesus' reign in heaven calls us to receive his blessings and focus our life on him:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
(Ephesians 1:3 NIV)

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1 NIV)


4. It is time for YOU to make a decision about Jesus:

"'What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?' Pilate asked." (Matthew 27:22a NIV)

"Pilate's question is yours. 'What will I do with this man, Jesus?'
You have two choices.
You can reject him. That is an option. You can, as have many, decide that the idea of God becoming a carpenter is too bizarre--and walk away.
Or you can accept him. You can journey with him. You can listen for his voice amidst the hundreds of voices and follow him."
(Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent, [Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1992], p. 161)

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How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say

"Avoid being bashful with God. . . .A fine humility it would be if I had the Emperor of Heaven and earth in my house, coming to it to do me a favor and to delight in my company, and I were so humble that I would not answer His questions, nor remain with Him, or accept what He gave me. . . .Have nothing to do with that kind of humility."
(Teresa of Avila, quoted in Walking With the Saints, by Calvin Miller, [Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1995], p. 87)


Many people ask, "What do I say when I pray?" or "I don't know how to say to God what I want to say." Wonderful resources for verbalizing our prayers are the Bible (or Scripture) and the songs and hymns of the Christian faith.

Also, remember God promises in the Bible that Jesus and the Holy Spirit will help us (intercede for us) in our prayers:

"But because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through

him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews

7:24-25 New International Version)

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to

pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that

words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind

of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in

accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

In addition, many published prayers resources are available. Believers have collected prayers and songs which praise and thank God, confess sins to him, and present requests to him. Used with your own prayers, published prayers and songs may broaden your outlook and reveal new areas of need to present to God. They can also aid in developing a daily discipline of prayer.


Pray Scripture
Use Scripture in Worshipful Prayer
Use Scripture in Structured Prayer
Pray the Hymns and Songs of the Christian Faith Back to the Table of Contents

Pray Scripture

"'Praying the Scripture' is a unique way of dealing with the Scripture; it involves both reading and prayer. Turn to the Scriputre; choose some passage that is simple and fairly practical. Next, come to the Lord. Come quietly and humbly. There, before him, read a small portion of the passage of Scripture. . . .

You may then want to take that portion of Scripture that has touched you and turn it into prayer. . . .

Plunge into the very depths of the words you read until revelation, like a sweet aroma, breaks out upon you. I am quite sure that if you will follow this course, little by little you come to experience a very rich prayer that flows from you inward being."
(Madame Jeanne Guyon, quoted in Devotional Classics, ed. by Richard J. Foster, [New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993], pp. 320-321)


1. Pray a Bible prayer by changing the pronouns:
(Scriptures personalized with "I," your name, or someone else's name can be turned into a prayer to God.)

"For this reason I kneel before [You] Father, from whom [Your] whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of [Your] glorious riches [You] may strengthen [us] with power through [Your] Spirit in [our] inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith. And I pray that [we], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that [we] may be filled to the measure of all [Your] fulness.

"Now to [You] who [are] able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to [Your] power that is at work within us, to [You] be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:13-21 New International Version)

2. Pray using a more informal version of the Bible:

"My response is to get down on my knees before [You] Father, [a] magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask [You] to strengthen [us] by [Your] Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live in [us] as [we] open the door and invite him in. And I ask [You] that with both feet planted firmly on love, [we'll] be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. [Teach us to] reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of [You].

"[You] can do anything, [we] know--far more than [we] could ever imagine or guess or request in [our] wildest dreams! [You do] it not by pushing us around but by working within us, [Your] Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to [You] in the church!
Glory to [You] in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
(Psalms 23:1-6 NIV)

As a prayer:

"Lord, I praise you that you are my Shepherd and that I shall not be in want. I thank you for making me lie down in green pastures and leading me beside quiet waters. I take comfort that you have restored my soul. Please continue to guide me in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. I