When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” —Mark 15:39 This soldier understood death. He had probably seen it many times. He did not become a centurion without experience. This season soldier saw how Jesus died and said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” What stood out in the death of Jesus on the cross that brought this soldier to that conclusion? We are told he “saw how he died” and that brought him to the conclusion of who Jesus is. Jesus died according to His timetable, according to His plan and the…

So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking…

Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” —Mark 14:61-64 I was talking with a person one time and they said to me, “You don’t know who you are talking to.” He thought himself to be…

You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. —Deuteronomy 16:19 “Politicians are elected with the purpose of serving office with the need of his or her constituents on their mind. They’re supposed to do what’s best for the people of their district and represent their needs. However, politics often tempts greedy and corrupt people to take office in hopes of using their political power to gain influence in the world and fill their bank accounts. The biggest political scandals are often about politicians who have taken or solicited bribes for their…

But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God. —Deuteronomy 8:19-20 Judgment is coming to all nations who “refuse to obey the Lord Your God.” Yes, that includes the United States. If we think we can turn our back on the Lord God Almighty and do our own thing without consequences we are badly mistaken. We will certainly be destroyed. So many seek the gods…

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. —Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Jesus replied, “‘you…

Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you. —Deuteronomy 4:2 So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them. —Deuteronomy 12:32 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. —Proverbs 30:6 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.…

Then the Lord was very angry with them, and he vowed, ‘Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the Lord.’ —Numbers 32:11-12 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have…

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” —Mark 9:35 The greatest among you will be your servant. —Matthew 23:11 This is so contrary to the world, the flesh and the devil which all want to be first and to be served, not to serve. Who are thought to be the mighty people on the planet? Isn’t it those who have large entourages catering to their every need? The rich and powerful are thought to be the greatest in this world. Are they not what makes the world turn? But Jesus had a totally different perspective on who is the greatest or…

“Anything is possible if a person believes.” —9:23 When we truly understand who God is, then we also know that all things are possible with Him. But just because all things are possible with Him does not mean that He definitely will do all things. The context of the verse above is when the dad brought his demon possessed boy to the disciples and they could not drive it out. The man asked Jesus to… “If you can.” This is when Jesus said that “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The man responded, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” The dad had said, “If you can”…