Why Jesus? I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b Years ago I encountered a young boy who asked me why our group had come to their country in Central America.  Working through a translator, I began to explain that we were there to serve...

Ventures Bold and New After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way… He said to him, “Follow me.”  John 21:1, 19b In the resurrection accounts of Matthew and Mark, the angel tells the women that Jesus would be going ahead of...

Sent to SHINE!  “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”  John 1:6-8 Young men and women will once again be sent out...

31,500 Steps That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem…So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening...

God’s Definite Plan When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”  Matthew 26:1-2 The events of Holy Week should not have come as a surprise to those closest...

May His Blood Be on Us! So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.”  And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our...

The One Who is Mocked as King is Truly the King! And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of...

The One in Despair Still Trusts God “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness...

He Saved Others, But Not Himself So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” Matthew 27:41-42 The angel appears to Joseph in...

Powerfully Powerless And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”  Matthew 27:39-40 It was King David’s son, Solomon, who built a temple for the Lord.  It was...