The Worm

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Does that sound familiar? It should. Jesus said it while hanging on the cross. Want to see sinething that will blow your mind? Open your Bible to Psalm 22 and begin reading.

That's right. Jesus was quoting King David who was the original writer of those words. But David was only relaying what he heard from God (in this case, Jesus). The amazement continues. Verses 16-18. Notice that the person dictating to David is speaking in the first person tense. It IS Jesus!

"Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. ¹⁷All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. ¹⁸They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." - Psalm 22:16-18

Nobody pierced David's hands and feet. But they DID pierce the hands and feet of Jesus. They also divided His clothes among them and cast lots for his garment! (Matthew 27:35)

You might ask, "What does any of this have to do with the title of today's story - The Worm? Psalm 22 verse 6 says this:

"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people."

Are you ready?

The Hebrew word for worm in Psalm 22:6 is  tola'ath. It specifically refers to a "crimson worm" or "scarlet worm." This crimson worm is notable for producing a deep red dye and was used in dying garments and also the curtains of the Tabernacle. The story gets even more interesting when you consider the life cycle of this crimson worm.

• The mother climbs up a piece of wood, mainly a particular type of tree, in order to lay her eggs. (Jesus was hung on a "piece of wood" / tree)
• She then attaches herself to the tree, building a hard red shell around her.
• Inside this crimson shell she lays her eggs and keeps them under her body to protect them. ("How I've longed to gather you under my wings")
• The baby grubs are hatched and they feed on the mother’s body for 3 days. (Jesus was 3 days in the tomb)
• During this time a bright crimson red fluid oozes from the mother. (The blood of Jesus shed for His children)
• This red fluid stains the wood that she is attached to and the baby grubs are covered being permanently stained with it. (We are "covered permanently" by His blood)
• The young are ready to leave the shell after 3 days. (Just like Jesus left the tomb after three days)
• The mother, being still attached to the shell and to the tree, dies so that she can birth a family. (Jesus' death literally gave us new life)
• On day 4 the mother’s tail pulls up to her head making a heart-like shape and she is no longer red – she has turned into a snow-white wax. (Psalm 22:13 - "My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me")
• This snow-white body looks like a little piece of wool on the side of the tree. It begins to flake off and falls to the ground like snow. (Wool? You mean like that of a sacrificial lamb?)
  

This scarlet worm is a perfect representation of Jesus and His sacrifice for on the cross. God created this scarlet worm as a testimony and foreshadowing of what would one day take place. This is incredible! And still people refuse to listen.

The Scarlet Worm - Hebraic Heritage

Impaled?

You know, we read the Bible and believe that what it says is truth. At least we should, right? I would like to add an asterisk to that statement, and it reads like this:

The Bible is 100% true *

* in the original text

Example: The Thief on The Cross passage found in Mark 15:27. If you go on BibleHub.com and explore the 43 different Bible translations for this verse, many different words describing who was crucified next to Jesus appear - robbers (25), thieves (5),  bandits (4), criminals (4), rebels (2),  revolutionaries (2), and outlaws (1).

So which one is right? They're all similar. "Robbers" seems to be the most popular. If you look up the verse in a Greek Interlinear Bible you will find the Greek word 'lēstai' which translates as "robbers." That coincides with the most popular translation. But why did other translators choose the words they did if "robbers" was the best choice? Unknown.

Here's another example from the same verse, just two words before "robbers." The word 'crucified.'

"With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left." - Mark 15:27

Look at this screen shot from the interlinear Bible. It says 'impalling' in the blue colored text. What? Jesus was impaled? Okay, what is the definition of impaled then? Because I thought impaling was like what happened to Haman in the Book of Ester. He was impaled on a pole.

Merriam Webster - "to pierce with or as if with something pointed. To torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake."

That's what happened to Haman alright.

I enjoy digging into the Bible's words to see what their true meanings are. And each time I do, I always come away with a new, deeper understanding.

In this case, Jesus was crucified. Exactly how it was done is up to human interpretation. He died. Does it truly matter how? Nailed to a cross or to a tree (which the Bible says elsewhere), or impaled on a pole, He died next to two men. Truth.

He died as a sacrufice for OUR sins, rose again from the dead, spent 40 days walking and talking with the disciples, then He ascended into heaven. The Gospel, the good news, is pretty simple. We should keep it that way.

Down From Above

The Veil of the Temple, also known as the Temple Curtain, holds significant theological and symbolic importance in the biblical narrative. It was a large, ornate curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, within the Temple in Jerusalem. This veil is mentioned in several key biblical passages and is central to understanding the relationship between God and humanity, particularly in the context of the New Testament.

The Veil of the Temple was a massive curtain, traditionally believed to be about 60 feet high and 30 feet wide, and several inches thick. It was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully woven into it (Exodus 26:31-33). The veil served as a physical and symbolic barrier, signifying the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. Only the High Priest could pass beyond the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:2-34). - BibleHub.com

That's a pretty big veil - 30 feet wide and 60 feet high! The height of it is what's really interesting. Let's go to Matthew to read more about the curtain in the tabernacle.

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵²and the tombs broke open." - Matthew 27:50-52

Well, there WAS a powerful earthquake. That probably did it, right? Except there is nothing in the text that says the tabernacle sustained any damage other than one torn curtain. Hmm.

Well, I'm guessing that God Himself tore the curtain. He does things like that. He parts seas and stops up rivers. And He DOES reside ABOVE the curtain, in heaven.

I guess He could have sent an angel to tear the curtain. Angels do powerful things. Remember when "the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 in the Assyrian camp" (2 Kings 19:35)?

Still, I'm thinking it was God Himself. He does monumental things like this, impressively dramatic things. He closed the door to the ark by Himself, and buried Moses by Himself, and of course the parting of the Red Sea.

I think He was telling mankind that there was no longer any separation between Him and us - through Jesus, His Son. And His shed blood.

"The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." - Hebrews 9:22

"It is finished." - Jesus, John 19:30

The Veil - David Crowder Band

Thief

The thief on the cross has got to be one of most interesting character studies in the Gospels, besides Jesus of course. What happened to change this man's mind, from cursing Jesus to defending him? Find out in today's story.

Matthew and Mark's accounts of Jesus's crucifixion are pretty much the same. Luke's record of the event however is much more detailed.

According to Luke, Jesus actually gave a mini-sermon on His walk up the hill to the women of Jerusalem (v27-31).

"Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” - Luke 23:28-31

The two thieves, who were to me crucified next to Jesus, actually accompanied Jesus on His walk to Calvary (v32). They heard everything Jesus said to the women.

And, as they crucified Jesus, the thieves also heard Jesus say this: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34

All these things, and most probably that last sentence, caused the one thief to change his mind about Jesus.

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? 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.” - Luke 23:

39-43

It wasn't a miracle that Jesus performed, or anything else He did. It was what Jesus said.

He spoke to the women, He prayed for those who were killing Him, AS they were killing Him!

What do WE say and do to convince others that God is real? Do we heap judgements on sinners, or do we pray for them? When WE are under stress, how do WE react?

This world we are living in is turning its back on God. Our disobedience gets worse every day. Let us pray for eyes to be opened and for hearts to be changed. Remember, they know not what they do. 

Myrrh

We all remember the three wisemen who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus, the newborn King. Obviously, those things were considered valuable. But do you know what myrrh was used for? 

Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora. Myrrh resin has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Myrrh mixed with posca or wine was widely used in many ancient cultures to produce pleasurable feelings and as an analgesic.

Hmm. That last sentence.... an analgesic. That's a painkiller. Keep that in mind as you read this:

"They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it." - Mark 12:22-23

They offered Jesus a painkiller, but He wouldn't take it. Why not? Surely, crucifixion must be painful.

Remember back when Jesus was being arrested? Peter pulled out his sword and was willing to fight. Jesus said this:

"Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” - John 18:12

Jesus didn't want a painkiller because He wanted to obey the full will of God. He actually wanted to receive the full penalty for our sins, in obedience to the Father.

Would you or I have taken the wine mixed with myrrh to ease the pain? Most likely. But Jesus, even in His death, wanted to be obedient to the max.

Good Thursday?

Our pastor said something on Sunday that got my attention. He said that he believed that Jesus was actually crucified on a Thursday and NOT on a Friday. Really? Could it be true?

When someone tells us something like that, we should be "good Bereans" and do our research in God's Word.

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, 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

GotQuestions.org, my usual go-to place for Bible questions, actually said there are three beliefs for days of the crucifixion - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Going into this examination my default belief was Friday. It's Good Friday, not Good Thursday or Wednesday, right?

The GotQuestions.org answer (link below) provided scripture for each position. One verse got my attention, however. Matthew 28:1. Most Bible translations read similar to this:

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." - Matthew 28:1

But some other translations, like the Berean Literal Translation for example, had the same verse translated this way:

"And after the Sabbaths, it being dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb." - Matthew 28:1

'Sabbaths' is plural!?! So, I kept digging and found an article called The Case for A Thursday Crucifixion (link below). Interesting read.

The picture above is from a Greek/English Interlinear On-Line Bible. Note the word "Sabbaths" that I underlined. It's plural, meaning more than one sabbath.

The key to all of this is knowing that there are TWO kinds of Sabbath days. There is a weekly day Sabbath, which occurs every Saturday, and then there is a HIGH day or special holy day, like Passover, which occurs on different days of the week but always on Nissan 10 according to scripture.

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month (Nisan) of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household." - Exodus 12:1-3

Jesus came into town riding on a donkey. On Palm Sunday. The Passover.

Read the article. Perhaps your Good Friday will turn into a Good THURSDAY as a result.

On What Day Was Jesus Crucified?

The Case for A Thursday Crucifixion

Burning Love

I'm not anybody special. Far from it. But I HAVE been blessed in that I have seen glimpses of God. Not God Himself mind you. No one has ever seen God, and lived. But I HAVE seen examples of his character in His Word and in His creation. So have ALL of His children! But I never thought I'd see Him in my fireplace.

For example, yesterday I was looking at the fire in our fireplace. There were no flames actually but the log was glowing red hot. As I watched it I could see it pulsing, reds and oranges. It was like the log was alive with fire - burning from within itself. That's what gave me the idea for this story.

We read in 1 John 4 that "God is love." When we read that in verse eight we think, "Yeah? So? I love people too." That's just it. I don't think we do. Not the way God loves us.

We say we love all kinds of things. For example, I love my grandchildren, I love my wife, and I love meatloaf. My friend Chuck at church said he has a friend who "loves" hunting. Does he REALLY love hunting? Or is it just an obsession? Love is an incredibly misused word.

I see people on Facebook say how they love someone. They're 12! How can they be so sure it's love and not indigestion? Do they even comprehend what love is at that young age? Or us. Can we truly comprehend what love is without knowing God?

I think that none of us really knows what love is until we come to know Jesus. The Bible is right when it said that God is love. And here's the proof.

Open your Bibles to Luke 23 and begin reading in verse 34. Jesus is being crucified by the religious rulers. What did Jesus do? He prayed for them, seeking forgiveness on their behalf. What?!?

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." - Luke 23:34

In verse 41-44 we see another example of the love of Christ as He had compassion on one of the criminals hanging next to Him. Speaking to the second thief, the first thief said,

⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
 
⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” - Luke 23:41-43

Flip ahead to John 19 for yet another example of God's love and compassion. When Jesus looked down from the cross and saw John and His mother standing there He said this:

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." - John 19:26-27

As He was dying on the cross, Jesus made sure His mother was taken care of. He also comforted a thief and prayed for those who were killing Him. What kind of amazing love was that?

God's love burns hot, just like that log in our fire place.  Is our love that hot? Does it burn as deeply for fellow humans, both friend and foe? Sadly, I think we're lucky to find a spark sometimes when we compare our love with God's.

There is a difference between God's love and ours. Often we incorrectly call something love when it is really lust or idolatry.

Do we love our enemies like Jesus did? No. He sacrificed Himself for them out of a deep burning love in His heart so that they could be saved.

I want to live like that. I want to have so much love inside of me that I am glowing red-hot . . . not only for those I like but for those I don't like as well. I have a long way to go and surely I will never get to that point. But I can try. :)

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

Do The Work

Sometimes things don't go exactly like we think they will. Something unexpected comes up, new obstacles appear in our way. Seemingly overnight, relationships can change right before our eyes. Sometimes our lives get filled with so many distractions that we lose focus on the very thing we were trying to get accomplished in the first place.

A lot of behind the scenes stuff has been happening with my Tiny Home. Ordering materials, paperwork, forming an L.L.C., should we become a non-profit organization? Lots of questions. Answers are slow in coming.

After one frustrating day at work and then, coming home, and not being able to work on the Tiny House . .  again . . . I was getting frustrated. When I get frustrated, which isn't very often, I usually pick up my Bible and I read. Once again, God removed my frustrations as He spoke to me though His Word. Wow!

I was reading in 1st Chronicles. Not the most exciting book in the Bible. But this is what I read - David speaking to his son Solomon. Was God speaking to me as well this week when I read these words? I say YES!

^"9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

I am building a home. A Tiny House. It is going to be used as "a sanctuary" for displaced teens, homeless, and people who just need a place to stay.

"Be strong and do the work." I think God wants me to forget all the extraneous stuff and just focus on building the house. He'll take care of the rest.

Yesterday was Good Friday - the day we remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus did what HIS Father told Him. Jesus completed the work. And when He was done, hanging there on the cross, He said THIS to His Father.

^"30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:30

Jesus obeyed His Father. He finished the work His Father had given Him to do. Can we say the same thing? Have we completed the work that God wanted us to do?

When I get to the end of my life I want to have completed what God wanted me to do here. If God wants me to build a house for Him to use, I'm going to build Him a house. I want to be able to say, "It is finished" just like Jesus did after He finished the job His Father had for HIM.

May each of us be able to say . . .

"Tetelestai!"

It is finished.
 
It Is Finished - An Animation feat. song by Caitelen Schneeberger

What's So Good About It?

It's the day after they crucified my Lord. A mix of emotions runs through my heart. Of course, I am terribly saddened by His death - grieved to the point where my heart aches terribly for His loss.  Saddened even more by the knowledge that it had to occur. Even more so knowing that it was MY sins that placed Him on that cross. Yet, even in His death I feel hope. And that is why my heart keeps beating. Hope.

While Jesus was still with us He told us that "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." And he also gave us this promise . . .

"Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."

When I consider the promise He made I am not really interested in living forever. That is not even a thought in my head. I am not interested in streets of gold or any kind of "reward." What gives me the strength to carry on after all of the struggles I have been through in this live, is the hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face. That's what I long for. That is what fascinates me. That I might have the opportunity to thank Jesus personally . . . if I can even speak in the presence of my King.

The Friday before Easter is called "Good" Friday. For the life of me I cannot think of a single GOOD thing about it. Just that it HAD to happen. It had to happen so the resurrection could happen. Jesus died so that we might live. He died for our sins. He died to give us hope.

These days we Christians find ourselves being persecuted for our beliefs. Brothers and sisters are dying overseas rather than deny their faith. We here in America are having our rights taken away in favor of political correctness. We are seeing God removed from our schools and from our government whose principals and laws were based on His. It is a dark time. But nowhere near as dark as when Jesus died nearly 2,000 years ago.

Each Good Friday I come home from work and watch Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ and each time I watch it I am saddened by humanity's sinful nature. But each time I watch the movie I also see hope. In the centurion . . . at the foot of the cross.

  

 "54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” - Matthew 27:54

There is tremendous hope in that. "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." - John 11:25

Were You There - Largest Ever World Male Voice Choir

Nic

My real world job is that of an architectural draftsman. I draw plans for buildings so other people can get an idea of how to build them. One of the phrases I use when I label things is N.I.C. which stands for Not In Contract. That way when people see things on the plans I create they will know that that particular object is not included in the job they are about to perform. They know what it is but they don't have to do anything with it. That's one example of NIC.

Nic is also a name. I have a few people in my life named Nic. One hiked the Appalachian Trail last year. The other is going to be marrying one of the coolest young ladies I know this summer. Her name is Meghan . . . and you spell his "Nic" with a 'K' at the end of it. There is Saint Nick, Nicholas Cage, Nick Nolte, Nicholas Sparks, Tsar Nicholas . . . both the First (I) and the Second (II). There are lots of Nic's in this world . . . whether they are included in the contract or not. But today I'd like to write about and another Nic - Nic O. Demus - and the topic of false converts.

First of all, false converts are those people who consider themselves "religious." They go to church, they put money in the offering plate . . . or not. They SAY they know God or Jesus but they really don't. It's like they know OF Him but their lives do not reflect a true belief.

I'd like to show you an example of a false convert in the Bible, Nicodemus, and how an encounter with Jesus changed his life and change his false beliefs for the truth.

Nicodemus was one of the religious chief priests, scribes and religious rulers; the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin as they were called. He was very much about following the law of Moses, sticking to the rules. In other words, he went to church, he knew about God, he did everything right in terms of what he believed. But then he heard about this man Jesus and his teachings so he went to investigate for himself.

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
 
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony." - John 3:1-11

At this point, "Nic" had heard about Jesus but was still living in a religion he had believed all of his life. "I've always had faith in my life," he might have said. But now Nic was asking questions. He went right to the source and asked Jesus about what He (Jesus) was saying. And Jesus delivered The Gospel. This third chapter of John is where we hear John 3:16, the most famous verse ever spoken, the "Bible in a single verse."

“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

At this point Nicodemus is without excuse. He has heard the Gospel message right from the source! Now he must wrestle - this new message vs. his current lifestyle and belief system. What will he do? Later on in scripture we get a hint. He's still playing it safe, but he's beginning to come around.

"45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” - John 7:45-52

Nicodemus "kind of" came to Jesus' defense but still clung to his position as a religious leader. All that was about to change. After the crucifixion, the body of Jesus had to be removed from the cross. Who did it? Most people remember Joseph of Arimathea. But Joesph was not alone that day.

"38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 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. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” – John 19

Let me ask you a question. Do you think that Nicodemus was born again? Verse 38 said that Joseph was secretly a disciple of Jesus. It also said that his status was "secret" because he feared the Jewish leaders. Well, if he feared the Jewish leaders so much, what was he doing there with Nicodemus - one of the Jewish leaders!?!? It HAD to have been because Joseph trusted Nicodemus not to betray him and his faith in Christ. That trust could only have existed because Nicodemus was also a disciple. A brother, in Christ.

This Nic, a religious leader of his day, was a false convert who placed his entire faith in the law. But then he became born again and lives a life devoted to Christ. I look forward one day to hearing the testimony of Nic and how specifically things happened. I wonder how many self-professing Christians of today are like Nicodemus was. Trying to live a life under the law, trying to do their best, going to church . . . religiously. Doing this, doing that. That's all worked based. The faith of a Christian is NOT ABOUT WORKS! It's a about grace through faith.

As we remember the death of our King on the cross - a death required because of OUR sin - let us offer our lives back to Jesus for the price he paid. Joseph of Arimathea did, so did Nicodemus. They both faced potential persecution, even death, for their beliefs and faith. Still, they both made the conscious decision to follow Christ . . no matter what. The question of the day is . . . have you?

Were you there?