Topic > Biblical Studies > Life of Jesus > Crucifixion >
A Message of Victory
Today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss the last verse of Psalm 22, where David ends his agonizing song about the suffering Messiah with a message of victory. The psalm concludes on a high note, “Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, for He has done it!” The amazing way Psalm 22 describes a “suffering Savior”—listen today on “Discover the Word”!
How Jesus Endured the Cross
Today on “Discover the Word,” we will talk about the intense physical violence Jesus endured on the cross, described in Psalm 22, 2,000 years before the actual event. This was long before crucifixion was even invented. While the film “The Passion of the Christ” gave us a graphic taste of that horrific event, it was still a tame depiction of what actually transpired. Join us right here on “Discover the Word”!
Jesus, Fully Divine and Fully Human
Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. Which means He wasn’t immune to experiencing human emotions. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss the intensity of these emotions as David foretold in Psalm 22. Phrases like “I’m a worm . . . scorned by men . . . despised by people,” give us graphic word pictures of Christ’s very real distress on the cross.
When Jesus Felt Utterly Alone
We all need solitude sometimes. But we wouldn’t like it 24/7, especially if that solitude was a form of punishment. Yet even a prisoner in solitary confinement for a lifetime would not suffer as Jesus did. On the cross, God the Father turned His face from His only Son, leaving Jesus utterly alone. On “Discover the Word,” we will talk about when Jesus was “deserted,” as foreshadowed in Psalm 22. Listen today to “Discover the Word”!
The Cross from Jesus’ Perspective
What’s in a song? A lot when that song is Psalm 22. This Old Testament song of lament points us to a future event on the cross. Just as we can see in Isaiah 53 Jesus’ suffering from the Father’s perspective in Psalm 22, we get a glimpse of the agony of the cross from Jesus’ point of view. Today on “Discover the Word”!
God So Loved . . .
July 28, 2014, marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. In the British media many discussions and documentaries recalled the start of that 4-year conflict. Even the TV program Mr. Selfridge, which is based on an actual department store in London, included an episode set in 1914 that showed young male employees lining up to volunteer for the army. As I observed these portrayals of self-sacrifice, I felt a lump in my throat. The soldiers they depicted had been so young, so eager, and so unlikely to return from the horror of the trenches.
Although Jesus didn’t…
In the Garden
My forefathers were pioneers in Michigan. They cleared the land, planted crops, and cultivated gardens to raise food for their families. This agrarian bent has been passed down through the generations. My dad grew up on a Michigan farm and loved gardening, which may explain why I love gardening and the smell of fertile soil. Cultivating plants that bear beautiful flowers and tending roses that fragrantly grace our yard with beauty are enjoyable pastimes for me. If it weren’t for the weeds it would be wonderful!
When I have to wrestle with the weeds, I am reminded of the garden of…
On a Hill Far Away
I often find myself thinking back to the years when my children were young. One particular fond memory is our morning wake-up routine. Every morning I’d go into their bedrooms, tenderly call them by name, and tell them that it was time to get up and get ready for the day.
When I read that Abraham got up early in the morning to obey God’s command, I think of those times when I woke up my children and wonder if part of Abraham’s daily routine was going to Isaac’s bed to waken him—and how different it would have been on that…
Beware “Kitsch Jesus”
Kitsch Jesus” is very popular. In paintings and posters, he’s portrayed as having straight teeth, perfect skin, bright blue eyes, and long, flowing hair. He’s often in soft focus, sitting in a peaceful sunlit field and is almost always gazing lovingly at the lamb he cradles in his arms. “Kitsch Jesus” wears long, white robes even when he’s painted in a modern setting, and occasionally he holds a shepherd’s staff. “Kitsch Jesus” rarely has a care in the world and never sports a furrowed brow. He’s a lavender-scented, greeting-card Jesus who is all pixies and daisies and skipping through the…
Discover proof that Jesus will never forget us
God hasn’t overlooked us in the past, and God doesn’t ignore us today. But can we ever be sure that God won’t forget us in the future? Join us today as we discover the answer from a thief on a cross.
Discover how one mother found abundant grace inside an empty tomb
The events of Easter offer not only hope for the future, but the Resurrection also provides release from the guilt of our past. Join us as we continue discovering “Life After Easter.”
It’s Not a Freak of Nature
The solar eclipse that happened in mid-March was indeed a breathtaking spectacle. While millions witnessed the event around the world, a fortunate few in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, far north of Europe, even got to see a total solar eclipse, with the moon completely blocking the sun. As I don’t live anywhere close to […]
How the impact of the Resurrection changed one woman’s life
Life changing experiences often pivot on a single moment. For a woman named Joanna, her world changed forever on a particular Sunday morning when she discovered an empty tomb. Listen in today as we discover the impact of the Resurrection on a woman who was there!
POEM: The Day My Savior Was Led Away
Hurry, hurry! My heart pounded. I saw the crowd in the distance. “Hail, King of the Jews!” they shouted. I slowed, feet worn with sand and dirt. What was that down my cheeks? I could not hold back as I stood. Why, why would He not speak? My mind could not grasp as I looked. […]
