James 1:25-27

 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

For those believers that look to God's perfect law, can be blessed doing it because it brings freedom to us.

We should not consider ourselves to be "religious" if we do not control our tongues.

Lastly, we should be compassionate towards the fatherless, and widows and keep ourselves pure before God.

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Hello Friends,

I trust you had a blessed Easter week.

These last 3 verses in James 1 conclude that chapter.

I will be starting something new on Wednesday of this week I am not sure what yet. 

It may be more of the way I have been studying scripture or something else. 

I am going to be praying about it in the next couple of days to see where God leads me with it.

In the meantime, I pray that God is blessing you above all measure!

Thanks for stopping by!

He Is Risen!

 

From somewhere beneath the earth, came a rumble. An earthquake so great was only the beginning of that wonderful morning, when the Son of God, would prove to the world that no tomb could hold him.

Did Jesus calmy get up and exit the dark place that had He had been placed in, just three short days ago?

No, I don't believe so. I imagine that He burst forth from that place just as mighty as the earthquake itself had in that few moments before. For it was the victory of the Saviour who had shed His blood, and he was about to show it to the world!

It had been such a sight that even the soldiers that were outside guarding the tomb, "did shake and become as dead men" the bible says. 

Jesus had just done the possible. He had justified his own death in the sight of His Father. And to a sin ridden world.

The horribly bloody cross had now become an object of beauty. Jesus had allowed His blood to turn around the events of the days before, to show us what it really had meant. 

How good is God?

He had so loved the world,

That He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth on Him,

should not perish,

but have everlasting Life.

John 3:16

That is how Great God is. And today, as we celebrate this truth of the gospel, we can be all so thankful that we are a part of it.

Even thousands of years later.

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Again this year, I am reposting a previous post that I did. I just do not think that I can add any more to this glorious event that gave us a risen Lord in Jesus Christ! 

I am thankful to belong to Him on this day and every day! 

I pray that you can do that as well!

God bless you on this Easter Day!

Holy Saturday: Day 6

 

In reading scripture about this time in the life of Jesus, there had been a lot of activity going on during Holy Week. And so we get down to Saturday, the day before he came forth out of His grave to prove that indeed He was the Son of God.

And so what happened that day?

Well, it doesn't seem like, according to scripture there was much that did happen. However, Mathew 27:62-66 does give us a glimpse into that day. Read on:

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

66 So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

 And gotquestions.org does give us more about Holy Saturday to think on. Here is what they have to say about it: 

Holy Saturday is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Some Christians recognize Holy Saturday, the seventh day of Holy Week, as the day on which Jesus “rested” from His work of providing salvation. As Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” There was no further price to pay; sin had been atoned for.

After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a nearby tomb, and His body remained there the entirety of Holy Saturday (Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42). Churches that celebrate Holy Saturday traditionally do so by observing a day of somber reflection as they contemplate the world of darkness that would exist without the hope of Christ’s resurrection.

Indeed, without the resurrection of Christ, we would be in dire straits. If Christ had never been raised, “your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The disciples had scattered when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50), and they spent the first Holy Saturday hiding for fear of also being arrested (John 20:19). The day between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection would have been a time of grief and shock as the stunned disciples tried to understand the murder of Jesus, the betrayal of Judas, and the dashing of their hopes.

The only biblical reference to what happened on Holy Saturday is found in Matthew 27:62-66. After sundown on Friday—the day of Preparation—the chief priests and Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. This visit was on the Sabbath, since the Jews reckoned a day as starting at sundown. They asked Pilate for a guard for Jesus’ tomb. They remembered Jesus saying that He would rise again in three days (John 2:19-21) and wanted to do everything they could to prevent that. As we know, the Roman guards were inadequate to prevent the resurrection, and the women who returned to the tomb Sunday morning found it empty. The Lord had risen.

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Jesus. Crucified. Buried. and now what? Laying in a tomb while guards watched over it to make sure his body could not be stolen. They had no idea what was coming.

And where were the friends of Jesus? Hiding. Because they were afraid, they would be next? 

None of them knew what was coming. They had no clue.

Thankfully, you and I can look back and see the things that did happen. And we can believe and be thankful that Jesus, God's Son would die for the sin of the world, that we might gain from it eternal life. 

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for us!

Thanks for coming today, Friends. God bless you today and every day!

Do you need proof?

Do you need proof that Jesus died, buried and rose again?

There is real evidence to look at, if you would like to check it out.

Go to: the face of Jesus: Michael and the shroud of Turin on YouTube. 

The shroud of Turin was debunked in the 80s. However, the fact that it was debunked is now debunked. It's very interesting.  Watch it and then decide for yourself if its proof enough for you to believe. 

Holy Week: Day 5

27 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

36 And sitting down they watched him there;

37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.

38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.

57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.

Many Christians celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually in the evening. The singing of solemn hymns, the offering of prayers, Scripture readings, and a message on Christ’s suffering on our behalf are often part of a Good Friday service. Also, Christ’s death is remembered with the observance of the Lord’s Supper, or communion. Some Christian traditions enforce a strict fast on Good Friday, and worshipers wear black and cease from work, treating Good Friday as a day of mourning. In some countries, people bake hot cross buns and serve them to friends and family. However Christians choose to observe Good Friday, the great sacrifice of Christ should be the focus.

The death of Christ, commemorated on Good Friday, was unlike any other death. Jesus’ death was truly a sacrifice for sin: “For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (Romans 3:25–26, NLT).

The Bible does not instruct Christians to observe Good Friday; neither does it forbid such an observance. The Bible gives us freedom in these matters. Romans 14:5 says, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” Believers are to remember Christ’s death every time they observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ words at the Last Supper are recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:24, 26: “Do this in remembrance of me. . . . For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

What is “good” about Good Friday? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good—it was evil (see Matthew chapters 26—27). The answer lies in the etymology of the English word good. In Middle English, the adjective gọ̄d held the sense of being “holy” or “sacred.” Before standardized spelling, the word also appeared as gode, goed, gude, goid, and good (Middle English Dictionary, Regents of the University of Michigan, 2025). The connotation of being “holy” is carried through in modern observances of “Good” Friday.

Beyond etymology, Good Friday can be called “good” because of the results of Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice was a demonstration of God’s love for us (Romans 5:8). Through Jesus’ death, we can have peace with God: “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). As 1 Peter 3:18 says, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God” (NLT).

That first Good Friday, it seemed that evil was in control, but it was only a temporary arrangement. In fact, Jesus was clear that the powers of darkness were given divine permission to act against Him (Luke 22:53; cf. John 10:18). Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). God allowed the hatred, the conspiracy, the false accusations, the sham trials, and the murder of His Son on Good Friday. Through the crucifixion of Christ, God used the basest desires of evil men to accomplish the greatest good: the provision of salvation for mankind. The result was glorious: “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

To learn more about the meaning of Good Friday and why Jesus’ death on the cross is so important 

(gotquestions.com)

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The story of Jesus death and resurrection is not just a story. It is not a fable like so many in the world would and has called it. We live in a sin filled world. Each of us need a Savior that calls us to a higher purpose than what this world offers. And yet, so many do not believe, nor do they want to turn their lives over to their Creator. And one day, they will live to regret that decision. We must pray for those that do not know Jesus. Because He will only wait so long on us and we never know when our time is up. 

God bless you on this day, Good Friday when Jesus paid it all for us.

 all for us!