Lenten Reflections


Jesus'  Resurrection

Jesus'  Burial

Jesus'  Crucifixion

Jesus'  Capture

Jesus  Prayers at Gethsemane

Music
"Christ the Lord is Risen"
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This web site was created to glorify God through the words of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that as you read Jesus' words you would be spiritually enlightened, enriched, and encouraged. Additionally, we have included biblical and historical information about Jesus' early life and His ministry on earth.

Events Leading to Jesus' Resurrection

Jesus' Resurrection
Matthew 28: 2-20
 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Message 
Hallelujah for  Jesus' resurrection! Supremely it gave everyone regardless of religion, racial identity, nationality, social class, gender and age the right  to choose and accept Him as their savior. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 

Part 4 - Jesus' Burial
 Matthew 27:57-63.Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’

Message
There were two  significant  occurrences related to Jesus burial. The first is that  Joseph of Arimathea,  a wealthy man and recent disciple, took the responsibility to ensure Jesus' burial in a tomb, instead of  one of the chosen twelve.  Second it was the pernicious request of the chief priests and Pharisees to Pilate that a guard be placed at Jesus' tomb for three days to prevent the disciples from removing His body to validate resurrection. Of course this was all debunked by Jesus' glorious resurrection. 

Part 3 - Jesus' Crucifixion
Matthew 27:45-50
”Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You  forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 

Message
 Jesus birth in Bethlehem and subsequent death on Calvary were all in accordance with God's divine plan to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death. Furthermore as  Jesus submitted to the agony of crucifixion on the Roman cross, all  sacrificial offerings of animals to repent for sin was totally abolished.  Thus when Jesus said "...It is finished" John 19:30 , He declared that His death had completed the absolute price to secure God's divine pardon for the sin of all mankind with  the gift of eternal life - For God  so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life"  John 3:16.   " 

Part 2 - Jesus' Capture
Matthew 26:46-57
 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him." Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 

Message
Scripture records Jesus rebuking Peter again for his emotional and impulsive reactions. Yet this was Peter's most aggressive action to  cut off a servant's ear in retaliation for actions of  the mob that  captured Jesus. But Jesus' healing of the servant’s ear demonstrates two truths He wants to impart to us. First is that resorting to violence in response to aggression only perpetuates it. Second, as Jesus revealed to Peter is the power of God's intervention. But Jesus is also telling us that when we pray to God for His divine protection, He intervenes with  all that we need to bring deliverance.

Part 1 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
 Matthew 24: 36-46
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ”Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Message
Jesus preached extensively about prayer and even gave us a model to follow. But most importantly, He demonstrated His teaching by personally praying throughout His time on earth. This is the reason it was not unusual for Jesus to pray in the garden of Gethsemane for God to strengthen Him to bear the agony of His impending crucifixion. But although Jesus was deserted by the disciples when they did not pray as He asked them to do, He tells us that prayer strengthens us. All we need when facing life's trials and challenges is to pray with faith in God's power and He will always answer us, because prayer has neither human limitations nor physical boundaries.