“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.”” ~ Matthew 28:5&6   Reference:  Matthew 28:1-10 Jesus got to Jerusalem, “for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem,” (Luke 13:22) and was crucified on the cross, paying for all our sins. Hell gloated at His death, the religious leaders were happy and the disciples were distraught and scattered. Jesus was buried in a tomb…and...

“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” ~ Matthew 26:47   Reference:  Matthew 26:36-41; 47-56   Man fell in a garden and his redemption started in another garden – Gethsemane. The ‘enemy’ came into both gardens; Eden, as a serpent, and Gethsemane, with gangsters with clubs and swords. Jesus had retired to this garden to meditate about His approaching death and to pray. This is the final lap of His journey to Jerusalem, the journey to the cross....

“A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?” ~ Matthew 26:7&8   Reference:  Matthew 26:6-13 Amidst the arrows of hate shot at Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem, like sun rays peeping into a dark room, we here see the only gracious act of hospitality and kindness He received; first from Simon the Leper who hosted Him to a meal, and then from this unnamed woman who poured a...

“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” ~ Matthew 22:18 Reference:  Matthew 22:15-22 Things are happening very fast! Purpose is about to be fulfilled. Jesus is teaching, healing, amending old traditions and rebuking the Pharisees for their harmful doctrines. His critics are actively looking for ways to stop or undermine Him. Their direct approaches have not worked, so, they regrouped and plotted an indirect way to entangle Him…to catch Him in His words. They came to him as friendly eager learners, seeking clarification on matters of religion and state. As a Teacher, He was...

“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”.” ~ Matthew 21:23   Reference:  Matthew 21:23-27   Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem was for the fulfillment of His ultimate purpose. So much happened in just a few days; there was excitement in heaven and the children rejoiced. These got the devil’s attention, and he would use any means to stop Jesus. It began right in the temple. Can you see it? On a...

“And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.” ~ Matthew 21:19 Reference:  Matthew 21:18-22 As Jesus journeyed into Jerusalem, He received adulations from the behemoth crowd who hailed Him as the King of Zion, coming on a lowly donkey. Palm fronds and clothes were spread on the road as He traveled. He then proceeded to the temple, where He overturned the tables of money changers and dove sellers. While there, the blind...

“Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.” ~ Matthew 21:2   REFERENCE: Matthew 21:1-11 It is the season of Easter! Let’s journey into Jerusalem with Jesus to witness His last days on earth. King Jesus was about to go into His capital city, Jerusalem, to fulfill the prophecies concerning His death. So, here begins a journey with so much meaning and so many lessons. In bible days, Kings rode on mules (or donkeys) as King David instructed in I Kings 1:33, “…Take...

“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 REFERENCE: JOHN 15:1-5 God ‘planted’ you in this world; His desire for you is that you are fruitful. The very first words God spoke to mankind were, “Be fruitful and multiply;” that means that He has programmed into every man the capacity to bring forth fruits. Not only does God expect man to be fruitful, He comes seeking fruits from man as the vineyard owner, because unfruitfulness is contrary to...

And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” – Matthew 7:25 REFERENCE: MATTHEW 7:24-27 In today’s text, Jesus talks about the importance of having a strong and firm foundation for whatever one builds. He stresses the need to build on a rock, the rock being obedience to His teachings. So that when the storms come, and the winds blow, and the waves crash, the building remains firm and strong – unshaken, unmoved, unbroken and undisturbed. This means once your relationship...

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a man who built his house on the rock. – Matthew 7:24 REFERENCE: MATTHEW 7:24-27 Every house is built by a man, no matter how tall, how deep, how wide, how beautiful, large, colorful, or expensive, it is first built in the man’s mind. Then, a man designs it through strategic planning and patience, he funds it, and often through much sacrifice, he builds it. Whatever a man desires or ‘sees’ in his mind’s eyes, he builds. The Bible puts forth a universal and undisputable...