Podcasts about golgotha

For a definition of the love of God, if you have not a bible to read about it, close your eyes and envision the Hill of the Skull, "Golgotha," and see God in human flesh hanging there in your place. Gpys. Bible in a Year: Isaiah 14-16 & Ephesians 5:1-16 

The Gospel Without Varnish The Desert Fathers present the Gospel in its rawest form. Their words strike the heart not because they soften Christ's commands but because they echo them without compromise: do not resist the one who is evil, forgive seventy times seven, love your enemies, bless those who curse you. To modern ears, this sounds offensive—even impossible. How can one not seek justice, especially when faced with cruelty, violence, or grave injustice? Yet the Fathers insist: freedom in Christ means clinging to nothing but His love as the one thing necessary. When we are wronged, our sorrow should not be for what has been taken from us, but for the soul of the one who has inflicted harm. Their sin is their true wound. Our calling is not to avenge but to forgive, not to condemn but to pray. Hypothesis XXXVII presses this home with piercing clarity. A struggler carrying a corpse is told: “Bear the living instead.” To shoulder the weakness of our neighbor, to endure his sins and insults, is the harder burden—but also the one that unites us to Christ. The examples unfold like a mirror before us. The elder who restrains himself when boys blaspheme outside his cell reminds his heart: If I cannot bear this small vexation, how will I endure a greater trial? Another, who endures the disobedience of his companion without protest, embraces a hidden martyrdom. Still another teaches: To put up with your neighbor in a difficult moment is equal to the martyrdom of the Three Youths in the furnace. The lesson is relentless: daily forbearance is our Golgotha. To return angry words, to demand repayment, to run to courts for vindication—these reveal hearts still bound to the world. But to endure injustice with patience, to forgive without condition, to pray for those who wrong us—this is to share in Christ's meekness on the Cross. Abba Isaiah pierces deeper: how can we beg God's mercy for our sins while refusing mercy to our neighbor? To repay evil for evil is to declare, in effect, that God does not judge rightly. The Fathers show us how far we fall short: Christ bore poverty, betrayal, insult, and death without retaliation—yet we cannot endure even a word of offense without bitterness. Modern sensibilities stumble here. We demand rights, recompense, recognition. But the Fathers summon us to something purer and more terrifyingly beautiful: to love as Christ loves, even when it crucifies us. When wronged, our grief must be for our brother's soul, not our own loss. His sin wounds him unto death; our response must be prayer for his healing. This is no easy path. It is a crucifixion of the will, a death to self. It cannot be done without grace. Yet in enduring wrong with gentleness, in forgiving when wounded, in praying for those who hurt us, we enter the very marrow of the Gospel. The Desert Fathers offer no compromise. The way of Christ is the way of the Cross. To bear wrongs patiently is to drink His chalice. To forgive without measure is to wear His likeness. And to weep not for what we have lost but for the one who has harmed us—this is the freedom of those who live only in His love. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:15:19 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 284 number five: forbearing those who offend us and not taking vengeance 00:15:29 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 284, 5 00:21:21 Rick Visser: Has this any bearing on social media? A million small vexations......which we very often feel compelled to tell them off? 00:49:55 Catherine Opie: What does one say to someone who justifies anger by pointing to the righteous anger of Jesus driving people out of the temple? This is a common thing that I hear from people who wish to justify their own anger, including myself here. 00:55:34 Anthony: Jesus had already proved Himself to be Lord of the Sabbath, correct?  He demonstrated authority.  Plus they Knew Him from the prophecy of His birth and the disputation in the Temple at age 12/13 01:01:59 Rick Visser: What is the best book on the life of each of the saints? 01:03:24 Adam Paige: Replying to "What is the best boo…" The Golden Legend, the Roman Martyrology 01:04:19 Rick Visser: Replying to "What is the best boo..."

FOLLOW RICHARD Website: https://www.strangeplanet.ca YouTube: @strangeplanetradio Instagram: @richardsyrettstrangeplanet TikTok: @therealstrangeplanet EP. #1259 Golgotha's Forbidden Code: Why Bible Experts Blindly Miss the Crucifixion Screaming from Every Hebrew Letter Journey into biblical shadows on Strange Planet as pastor Carl Gallups unveils Golgotha's Groaning—his explosive claim that three crosses lurk encrypted in Hebrew Scripture, from Genesis' dawn to Revelation's roar. Why do scholars like Dennis Prager dissect the Torah for decades yet ignore its blatant Messiah blueprint? Probe Psalm 22's crucifixion blueprint, Isaiah 53's synagogue blackout, and creation's labor pains echoing Calvary's cry. Jesus as lamb, scapegoat, priest—fulfilling rituals in cosmic eruption. Satan blindsided, Judas ensnared: aftershocks rumble today. Timed for end times, this decoding ignites faith amid prophetic chaos. GUEST: Carl Gallups is a dynamic pastor, bestselling author, and prophetic teacher with over 30 years in global ministry. A frequent guest on major TV and radio platforms, he has preached worldwide, igniting audiences with bold biblical insights. Author of 14 acclaimed books—including The Yeshua Protocol, Gods of Ground Zero, and the groundbreaking Golgotha's Groaning—Gallups deciphers ancient codes and end-times prophecies, challenging conventional scholarship while affirming Scripture's divine precision. WEBSITE: http://carlgallups.com BOOK: Golgotha's Groaning: Stunningly Unique Biblical Disclosures from Genesis to Revelation That Are Shaking the End Times World SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! ⁠FABRIC BY GERBER LIFE⁠ Life insurance that's designed to be fast and affordable. You could get instant coverage with no medical exam for qualified applicants.   Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family.  Apply today in just minutes at ⁠meet fabric dot com slash STRANGE⁠ ⁠TESBROS⁠ We're a small business built by Tesla owners, for Tesla owners. Everything we do is about helping our customers customize, protect, and maintain their ride — whether it's through our products or YouTube how-tos and reviews.  Go to⁠ tesbros.com⁠ and use code POD15 for 15% off your first order. ⁠⁠BUTCHERBOX⁠⁠ ButcherBox delivers better meat and seafood straight to your door – including 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood. Right now, ButcherBox is offering our listeners $20 off their first box and free protein for a year. Go to ⁠⁠ButcherBox.com/strange⁠⁠ to get this limited time offer and free shipping always. Don't forget to use our link so they know we sent you. HIMS - Making Healthy and Happy Easy to Achieve Sexual Health, Hair Loss, Mental Health, Weight Management START YOUR FREE ONLINE VISIT TODAY - ⁠HIMS dot com slash STRANGE⁠ ⁠https://www.HIMS.com/strange⁠ ⁠QUINCE BEDDING⁠ Cool, Relaxed Bedding. Woven from 100% European flax linen. Visit ⁠QUINCE BEDDING⁠ to get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.   ⁠BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!!!⁠  ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠  Three monthly subscriptions to choose from.  Commercial Free Listening, Bonus Episodes and a Subscription to my monthly newsletter, InnerSanctum.  Visit ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠ Use the discount code "Planet" to receive $5 OFF  off any subscription.  We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 26th of September, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of Matthew 27:32:”Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.” Simon of Cyrene came from Africa. He was an African, just like me, but he wasn't born in Southern Africa, he was born in North Africa. He came from Libya. Simon of Cyrene, just minding his own business, just walking in the streets of Jerusalem and all of a sudden the Roman soldiers got hold of him and said, ”You will carry this man's cross to Golgotha.”I want to say to you today, we need to always be ready for whatever God allows to happen to us. What an honour to be able to carry the cross of the Son of God! Irrespective of whether Simon knew it at the time or not, is not the point. He was selected, and he was ready, and he did it. I was told as a young preacher, “Always have a sermon in your top pocket”. We need to be ready in season, and out of season. No good saying, “No, I can't do it now.” We have to be ready. We are living in perilous times.I want to tell you a light-hearted story. Many, many years ago, my wife and I were invited to a wedding. We got there late and we just sneaked in the back of the service, and we found two seats right in the back row and we sat there quietly minding our own business, we didn't want to disturb anything. All of a sudden one of the ushers spotted us, walked up to us and said, ”You need to come to the front, the groom and his party are expecting you.” They took us all the way down the aisle, right across the front row, and we were seated right next to the bridal family. I didn't know what to expect. The service was beautiful. They said their marriage vows, they were proclaimed man and wife and then the MC, the master of ceremonies said, ”We are now going to hear the message, the word of God. Can I please ask Angus Buchan to come to the front and to preach the sermon?” My wife looked at me as if I'd had something to do with it. I looked at her and I said, ”I've never heard of this.” Well, I was ready, always ready in season, but what a challenge! I had to get up, congratulate them and then preach my heart out for half an hour. Always be ready. Simon of Cyrene was ready to carry the cross of the King of Glory. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.

When Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them, who did He mean? Those who did not know what they had done? Yes, there were those who mocked Him; those who slapped Him, wounded Him, and left Him. The cry of forgiveness of Jesus Christ was heard from the cross of Golgotha; from there it began to the ends of the earth, and finally this forgiveness reached our days, including me, you Afghans. If you believe in Jesus Christ. Think that we also crucified Him and we were also among the people about whom Jesus Christ said: Forgive them, for they know not what they do. So today is the day of salvation, healing, and complete freedom for me and you, freely available through faith in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, you will be under the judgement of God.

Has anyone told you that you're gorgeous? It's true, as obvious as when we're rolling a turd, suffering a pincer attack, wishing there were anime in an anime moment, yanking off nipples, adapting dragon technology, vowing to stop a cretin, stumbling into a fairy garden, chafing at a wicked manner, laying off the goblin workforce, shopping at Home Depot, peeling back Chris' Secret Garden meta layer, searching for the new Golgotha, accepting Phacia's sacrifice, and engaging in what is surely going to be the final battle. I think his lust for power has enslaved his soul 00:00:00 Salamander 00:02:35 Intro 00:04:32 Outside the Grindery  00:13:07 Grindery Part I 00:19:05 Grindery Part II 00:22:51 My Secret Garden 00:37:00 Grindery Part III 00:41:47 Phacia 00:48:44 Inner Sanctum 00:53:10 Real Net 00:57:08 Outro Patreon: patreon.com/retroam Bluesky: @retrogradeamnesia.bsky.social YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RetrogradeAmnesia E-Mail: podcast@retrogradeamnesia.com Website: www.retrogradeamnesia.com  

Get your copy of Golgotha's Groaning - https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/products/december-donation-2023-copy?variant=42276218601585“What Carl Gallups has uncovered and placed right before our eyes in Golgotha's Groaning is nothing short of stunning! You'll never expect what's coming!”—Messianic Rabbi Zev Porat (Tel Aviv, Israel)Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, depicts one of the most iconic images known to humanity: three crosses on a hill. Spiked to the middle cross was Yeshua/Jesus, the divine offer of Heaven's salvation.After years of meticulously poring over the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, Author Carl Gallups is leading readers on a unique pilgrimage to Golgotha, tracking a supernatural and almost DNA-like encoding of that quintessential image throughout the Bible. Astonishingly, likenesses of Golgotha are visible from the beginning words of Genesis to some of the last words of Revelation—and in just the right places.Written, in part, in Gallups' trademark, immersive-narrative style, Golgotha's Groaning is unlike any of his other works as far as the degree of its explosive content and exciting disclosures. Connected to key biblical passages are more than eighty illustrations, allowing readers to see for themselves these newly revealed truths.Carl Gallups has dedicated himself to his research with the same kind of intensity he poured into his previous law enforcement/investigation career, as well as with the wisdom he's garnered after many decades of contextually studying, teaching, and preaching God's Word.In Golgotha's Groaning, you will …In the first few chapters, through the theater of your mind, join Yeshua and His disciples at their last Passover meal. Then, in the remaining pages, you'll see staggering revelations clearly unfurl.Discover the true location of Golgotha, according to the declarations of the contextual Word of God itself.Come to believe that the Bible, unlike any other book in history, contains tangible evidence of its own multidimensional inspiration—an invaluable tool to boost your confidence in your witnessing and teaching.Recognize the links these revelations have with what are now undoubtedly the most prophetic days of human existence, as well as to your own life!“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints.” —Colossians 1:26, KJV

"Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the Cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifed on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (See Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Later, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place." (Great Horologion) A fast is kept today, whatever the day of the week.

Delivered by Michaela Phie, Clairine, Reinaldy Fargo, dan Kezia Nikita Sheilanova from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Numbers 21: 4-9; Rs psalm 78: 1-2.34-35.36-37.38; Philippians 2: 6-11; John 3: 13-17.RENEWED BY THE CROSS OF CHRIST The title for our meditation on this24th Sunday in ordinary time is: Renewed by the Cross of Christ.Today the whole Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Cross. This feast beganto be celebrated in Rome around the end of the 7th century. Its purpose was tocommemorate the discovery of a portion of the cross of Jesus which was kept inJerusalem in the hands of the Persians. Emperor Heraclius found part of thecross and took it to Jerusalem on May 3, 629. What does being renewed by the crossof Christ mean? The Lord Jesus came to unite the earth and the heaven. Heraises those who are on earth to the glory in heaven. He explains this toNicodemus, one of the Jewish rabbis, that He is the "Son of Man" sentby the Father to restore man's broken relationship with God. He is the OldTestament Messiah who came from heaven to build His kingdom on earth. Unlike the Jewish view, Jesus isprecisely speaking of the Son of Man being exalted. What does it mean? Heattributes it to Moses who raised a bronze snake in the desert to heal thosewho were bitten by poisonous snakes. The Israelites were punished for grumblingand dishonouring God. Moses raised that bronze snake on a pole that signifies across, from which people must return to putting their faith only in God. This symbol is intended to emphasizewhat Jesus wants to show us, that through His death on the cross in Golgotha,He does save us. But what Jesus makes is much stronger, because what Moses didwas only for some temporary results, namely healing people from snakebites.Jesus' death on the cross actually brings true victory over sin, Satan anddeath. By dying on the cross, Jesus removes the debt of our sins, freeing usfrom error and punishment. We obtain a new life, an abundant life in the HolySpirit forever. This renewed life means that by Hisdeath on the cross Jesus shows and teaches us an act of love, that is, givingHimself totally. He does it as an offering of His love for the Father and forour salvation from sinfull life. This renewal also explains the resurrection ofour bodies to enjoy eternal life and sitting on the right hand of the Father toreign forever and ever. The Lord Jesus is in heaven but His Spirit accompaniesand guides our lives here on earth. We live today and are truly blessed here bythe victory of Christ on the cross. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus Christ, may our lives both individuals and the churchcontinue to be illuminated and strengthened by the mystery of your holy crosswhich is a glorious victory for us. Glory to the Father… In the name of theFather ...

Get your copy of Golgotha's Groaning - https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/products/december-donation-2023-copy?variant=42276218601585“What Carl Gallups has uncovered and placed right before our eyes in Golgotha's Groaning is nothing short of stunning! You'll never expect what's coming!”—Messianic Rabbi Zev Porat (Tel Aviv, Israel)Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, depicts one of the most iconic images known to humanity: three crosses on a hill. Spiked to the middle cross was Yeshua/Jesus, the divine offer of Heaven's salvation.After years of meticulously poring over the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, Author Carl Gallups is leading readers on a unique pilgrimage to Golgotha, tracking a supernatural and almost DNA-like encoding of that quintessential image throughout the Bible. Astonishingly, likenesses of Golgotha are visible from the beginning words of Genesis to some of the last words of Revelation—and in just the right places.Written, in part, in Gallups' trademark, immersive-narrative style, Golgotha's Groaning is unlike any of his other works as far as the degree of its explosive content and exciting disclosures. Connected to key biblical passages are more than eighty illustrations, allowing readers to see for themselves these newly revealed truths.“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints.” —Colossians 1:26, kjv

Ecoutez L'oeil d'Alex Vizorek du 05 septembre 2025.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Ecoutez L'oeil d'Alex Vizorek du 05 septembre 2025.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Jesus was arrested and subjected to unjust trials before the Jewish leaders and Roman governor Pilate. Though found innocent, He was sentenced to death to appease the crowd. Jesus was scourged, mocked, and forced to carry His cross to Golgotha. There, He was crucified between two criminals, ultimately dying to pay the penalty for our sin. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us it all began with betrayal ... by one of His own disciples. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus was arrested and subjected to unjust trials before the Jewish leaders and Roman governor Pilate. Though found innocent, He was sentenced to death to appease the crowd. Jesus was scourged, mocked, and forced to carry His cross to Golgotha. There, He was crucified between two criminals, ultimately dying to pay the penalty for our sin. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us it all began with betrayal ... by one of His own disciples. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus is scourged and abused and led to Golgotha, the place of the skull. He is crucified, mocked, and forsaken by God. Then He cries out and yields up His spirit.Join Pastor Daryl as he journeys through the entire Bible. Visit the podcast website here. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.Read or subscribe to his devotional at simplythebible.blog. Visit the church website. If you enjoy Simply the Bible, please give us a rating and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. That helps us a lot!

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:21–25 - And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. [22] And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). [23] And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. [24] And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. [25] And it was the third hour when they crucified him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

At the second annual event that shook Indianapolis with biblical insight and jaw-dropping revelation. This exclusive DVD features author and pastor Carl Gallups as he presents The Hidden Message of the Bible's First Word. — a chilling, Scripture-based exposé that connects ancient truths to modern deceptions.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Jim Kuhn from Sun City West, AZ. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 15:21–32: And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. — Mark 15:21–32 Jesus is weak beneath the weight of the cross. He stumbles. The soldiers seize a bystander, Simon of Cyrene, and thrust the heavy wood onto his back. Simon carries a burden not his own—step by step—toward Golgotha. This is more than a historical detail. It's a vivid picture: God himself, bowed under sin's weight, and a stranger pressed into service to share that load. Then the mockery continues: The crowd taunts, “Save yourself!” The religious leaders scoff, “He can't even save himself.” The criminals beside him jeer in scorn. And yet, Simon, an unwilling participant, bears the cross so that Jesus can advance toward Calvary, where every sin would be nailed away. Simon's forced compassion begs a question for us: Whose burden should we willingly bear? The lonely neighbor? The struggling friend? The newcomer in church? The oppressed, the overlooked, the rejected? We're not called to carry Christ's cross—that's done. We're called to carry one another's burdens as he carried ours (Gal. 6:2). When you see someone bowed under life's weight, don't pass by. Step in. Accept the unexpected call. Shoulder their load—if only for a moment. Because in that act, you reflect the One who bore the world's sin. So, who will it be today? #CarryBurdens, #Mark15, #CompassionInAction ASK THIS: Why do you think Simon was compelled rather than volunteered? What keeps us from stepping in to share another's burden? Who in your life needs you to “carry their cross” today? How does bearing burdens reflect Christ's love? DO THIS: Reach out today to someone under pressure—send a text, make a call, offer a meal, or simply say, “I see your burden. How can I help carry it?” PRAY THIS: Jesus, you carried the cross for me. Show me who around me needs someone to bear their burden. Give me willing hands and a compassionate heart. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Burdens."

In this final conversation of the Christian Shadow Work series, Jonah and Patrick first pause to look back—gathering the threads of what has been opened in the earlier episodes. From there, the focus turns toward the heart of transformation in following Christ: the Eucharist.Here, in Christ's life freely given—body and blood—we meet the highest image of what it means to be human: the overcoming of self-absorption, offered in love for the world. In His death and resurrection, the question of what to do with our own shadows finds its answer.When we turn toward Him and allow His life to live in us, our shadows can be transformed into something new: not just burdens, but living crosses—like Golgotha itself—where the light of God shines in the darkness.Support the showThe Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary. Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together,” and the legacy of our original show-notes and patreon producer, Camilla Lake.

Speaker Carl Gallups presented The Stunning Iconic Image of Golgotha at the second annual Mysteries of the BibleVerse event, held in June 2025 in Indianapolis, IN. This topic is sensational but grounded in Scripture. Prepare to have your mind blown and your faith encouraged!

At the second annual event that shook Indianapolis with biblical insight and jaw-dropping revelation. This exclusive DVD features author and pastor Carl Gallups as he presents The Stunning Iconic Image of Golgotha. — a chilling, Scripture-based exposé that connects ancient truths to modern deceptions.

Mark 15:16-41The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 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. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS . They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can't save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he's calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

PRAYER IS THE WORKPastor Mark Lee | Vantagepoint ChurchLuke 11:9 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you.Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,believe that you have received it and it will be yours.Matt 21:22 – If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for inprayer.Acts 7:55 – full of the Holy Spirit he looked up to heaven and saw the glory ofGod and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.Acts 12:1 – It was about this time that King Herod arrested some whobelonged to the church intending to persecute them. He had James, thebrother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleasedthe Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.Acts 12:12-15 – When this had dawned on him, he went to the house ofMary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gatheredand were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance and a servant namedRhonda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she wasso overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at thedoor!” “You're out of your mind,” they told her.Acts 12:5 – So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying.Haddon Robinson- Where was it that Jesus sweat great drops of blood? Not inPilate's hall, not on his way to Golgotha, (in other words, he didn't just pray whilehe was in the trial) it was in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he offered upprayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save himfrom death. Had I been there and witnessed that struggle, I would have worriedabout the future. If he is so broken up when all he is doing is praying, I mighthave said, what will he do when he faces a real crisis. Why can't he approach theordeal of his three sleeping friends with a calm confidence? Yet, when the testcame, Jesus walked to the cross with courage while his three friends fell apartand fell away.Charles Finney - I have never known a person to sweat blood (while praying);but I've known a person to pray till blood started from his nose. And I haveknown persons to pray till they were all wet with perspiration, in the coldestweather in winter. I have known a person to pray for hours, till their strengthwas all exhausted with the agony of their minds.”Augustine's mother - It is not possible that a child of such tears can be lost.

If there was any passage in the Bible that appears to be a contradiction from what we read in other books of the Bible, it is James 2:24, which states: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This verse seems to contradict what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (2:8-9). So which is it? Is salvation a gift from God that can be received apart from anything we do, or is salvation something you have to work hard at keeping? In the 1980s these questions were popularized and brought to the forefront of theological discussions had in many homes and churches. At the heart of these discussions was the question: What does it means to believe in Jesus? Zane Hodges wrote his book, Absolutely Free arguing that nowhere in the Bible does it teach that belief in Jesus for eternal salvation requires a person to repent of his/her sins. Hodges went as far to say that a person can be a Christian and at the same time not love God. In response to Zane Hodges book, John MacArthur wrote The Gospel According to Jesus; in his book, he argued that true salvation involves a lifelong commitment to Jesus, which is the evidence of true biblical belief. Those who agreed with Zane Hodges labeled the teachings of people like John MacArthur as Lordship Salvation. Those who agreed with John MacArthur labeled the teachings of people like Zane Hodges as Easy Believism. Far from being a modern controversy, the argument between Hodges and MacArthur was simply an old theological debate dressed in newer garb. I do not have the time to give a history lesson as to what led up to Hodges and MacArthur duking it out in the form of books, but you should know about the idea if you just believe and say a prayer, that you will be saved. There is a theological stream that led to language you are probably familiar with, such as: Ten said Yes to Jesus! Or you may have had someone in your life encourage you to repeat a prayer, for if you just say the words, you can be saved just so long as you believe the words to be true in your mind. In 1763, a well-known Scottish author and pastor named Robert Sandeman (17181771) arrived in Danbury, Connecticut. His central teaching was that bare assent to the work of Christ alone is necessary for salvation. In other words, Sandeman argued that simply believing in Jesus was enough to be savedyou didnt have to follow Him or demonstrate love for Him. In Sandemans view, requiring evidence of love or a changed life made works a necessary part of salvation, which he firmly rejected. By the time Sandeman set foot in Connecticut, his writings and ideas had already spread widely through American churches. Ezra Stiles, who befriended Sandeman and would later become president of Yale University, remarked, I believe he has sown a seed in America which will up and grow, though I have no apprehension of any great ill effect.[1] Sandemans doctrine, which came to be known as Sandemanianism and is now often labeled easy-believism, was more than a theological curiosityit ignited debate and concern that ripple through the church to this day. What academic circles now call Free Grace Theology became the very ground upon which Zane Hodges and John MacArthur sparred. The warnings of giants like John Wesley (an Arminian) and Andrew Fuller (a Calvinist), echo through history: Sandemanianism, they cautioned, might lull the church into a shallow faith, one that confuses mere intellectual agreement with living trust. Its legacy remains, challenging and shaping the contours of American evangelicalism across generations. My hope today is not that you are more informed, but that you are more grounded in the Bible. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter what I think; what matters is what does the Bible have to say about it! So, let us turn to our text this morning to find out. A Grounded Faith is an Active Faith (vv. 14-17) James askes a question in verse 14, What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? He then gives us an example of what a faith devoid of works looks like in real-time: If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that (v. 15)? What is James getting at in these verses? He is picking up on what He said in 2:1-13 and forcing us to take a long, hard look into the mirror of Gods word to examine our hearts. If you say that your faith is in Jesus as the One who died for your sins and rose from the grave, then how can you pass by a brother or sister who shares your faith in Jesus who is in need and do nothing to help that person? Genuine faith will result in genuine, although not perfect, love for those who share in your faith in Jesus? Just so you know, James is not the only one who asks this question. The apostle John had some things to say about a faith grounded in Jesus being an active faith: Beloved, lets love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:7-10). Where on earth did John and James get their understanding of genuine faith from? They both got it from Jesus, who said, I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another(John 13:34). Again, John wrote in his epistle, This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:23-24). But, John and James are not the only ones who understood that a faith grounded in Jesus was an active faith, for the apostle Paul wrote: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10). Listen, salvation is the free gift of God made available through His Son that you cannot earn or work for. However, when you are genuinely saved by Jesus, you are then born again (John 3:1-21). When you are born again you go from being spiritually dead, to being made spiritually alive with Jesus (Eph. 2:1-6). The evidence that you are alive with Christ is a faith that is living! In the words of Paul, and in light of our salvation that is from God, you are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called... Paul did not stop there, he continued: walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-2). The clearest sign of being born again is a life transformeda faith that is alive, first in love for God and then in love for others. This is why Jesus described a coming day of judgment, when all people will be separated into two groups: the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The difference between them will be revealed in how they responded, with love and compassion, to those in need. Jesus will say to the sheep, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt. 25:34-36). Those who ignored the brother or sister who was hungry, thirsty, need shelter, needed clothing, was sick and needed care, or was in prison... will hear these words: Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (25:41, 45-46). A Grounded Faith is a Sacrificial Faith (vv. 18-26) When it comes to what read in James and what we read in Pauls letters, Timothy Keller said when looking at something with only one eye, you lose depth perception. To appreciate something for what it really is, you need two eyes. Why? Because each eye is looking from a slightly different perspective at the same object, and as a result you see it better.[2] The problem with Robert Sandeman, Zane Hodges, and Free Grace Theology is that they are only looking at Scripture with one eye, and in doing so, their sermons and books suffer from a distorted theological depth perception problem. Do you want to know one way you can make sure you have both eyes open? Have one eye on the text you are reading and the other on the rest of Scripture. James is not saying works first then faith later; what he is saying is that a faith that has generated new life in God is a faith that acts on the belief it rests in. To say you believe is easy; to act upon your belief is evidence that you believe. This is James point in verse 18, But someone may well say, You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Let me share an illustration from our family that may help you understand what James is saying here. Recently our family went on an Alaskan cruse; we probably never would have gone on a cruise during this season in our lives had it not been for my mother and step-father inviting us to go with them with all expenses paid on our behalf. Not only was the cruise paid for, but all of our travel expenses were paid for too! The package that my mother and stepfather paid for included all of our meals, and that the cruise line provided a medallion that we could either wear around our neck, or our wrist, which functioned as a pass for just about everything, including anything we wanted to eat or drink. We were told that we could order anything we wanted from an app on our phones that was synced to our medallion and that a server would deliver the food to us no mater were we were. All of it was paid for and I did not have to do a thing to earn it. However, my belief that was true was evidenced by acting upon the gift that was bought and paid for on my behalf. The difference between my experience on the Alaskan cruise and being born again, is that with my salvation came a new nature that involved a heart change. So what happened when I genuinely believed the gospel of Jesus Christ? I received the promise of Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I received the circumcision of the heart promised in Deuteronomy 30:6 that frees me up to Love God with all my heart and all of my soul, so that I may live. Here is how the NLT translates this verse: The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! James is saying that if you really believe what you say you believe, then the evidence that you really do believe will be seen in your actions. But James is not just talking about acting in light of what you believe, no... he is talking about something more than intellect and actions. Notice what he says in verse 19, You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. Do you see what James is doing here? The demons do not have a theological problem when it comes to their intellect, but they do have a heart problem! The fruit of genuine belief that involves the mind and heart are actions that reveal that a spiritual resurrection has taken place and that you have gone from death to life. Faith without action reveals a deeper issuea problem of the heart. If faith shows no signs of life, it isnt truly alive. To illustrate this, James points to two powerful examples from Scripture: Abraham and Rahab. Both demonstrated their genuine belief in God not just through words, but through courageous acts of obedience. They trusted God so completely that they were willing to risk everything, proving that living faith always moves us to action, even when it requires sacrifice. Conclusion Consider Abrahams journeya life seasoned with trials and tests, both by circumstance and by his own choices. For years, Abraham and Sarah hoped and longed for the promise of an heir to become their reality. Miraculously God fulfilled His promise to the elderly couple and when we reach the dramatic moment in Genesis 22 that James refers to, God commanded Abraham to do the unthinkablesacrifice Isaac. Abrahams faith had been forged in the furnace of experience. He was finally able to trust God, even when the command seemed impossible to understand. When Abraham, Isaac, and their servants arrived at the mountain, Abraham told his servants, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you (Gen. 22:5). Despite the looming test, Abraham expressed confidence that both he and Isaac would return. This conviction shows that Abrahams faith wasnt just a matter of wordshe truly believed that God was both good and powerful enough to raise the dead if necessary. James continues in verse 25, In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? The messengers were spies that Joshua sent into Jericho to assess what they were up against. When the king of Jericho learned that the spies were in Jericho, he searched for them, but Rahab hid them. Before she helped them escape undetected, she said to them: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt.... When we heard these reports, our hearts melted and no courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below. (Josh. 2:9-11) The evidence that she really did believe what she said about the God of the Hebrews is seen in her hiding the spies and then helping them escape at great personal risk to herself. Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, but he did not have to because God provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. Many years later, the Son of God would climb up to the top of Golgotha out of obedience to His Father to die for sins we are guilty of. Jesus died to redeem and make you new for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Rahab hid and protected the spies when there was no law requiring her to do so. In so doing, her life was not only spared, but God had a greater purpose she could not have been aware existed, to include her great grandchild being King David, and from David would come the promises King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. So, I leave you with a few questions: What is your Isaac that God is asking you to place upon His altar of sacrifice and why have you been reluctant to do so? What is your Jericho that God is asking you to forsake, and why have you been reluctant to let it go? Remember that God is asking these things of you because He is both holy and good. You say that you believe God to be so, therefore trust Him by obeying Him. Christian, God loves you and He ultimately intends good for you. [1] https://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/connecticut/sandeman.htm [2] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

If there was any passage in the Bible that appears to be a contradiction from what we read in other books of the Bible, it is James 2:24, which states: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This verse seems to contradict what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (2:8-9). So which is it? Is salvation a gift from God that can be received apart from anything we do, or is salvation something you have to work hard at keeping? In the 1980s these questions were popularized and brought to the forefront of theological discussions had in many homes and churches. At the heart of these discussions was the question: What does it means to believe in Jesus? Zane Hodges wrote his book, Absolutely Free arguing that nowhere in the Bible does it teach that belief in Jesus for eternal salvation requires a person to repent of his/her sins. Hodges went as far to say that a person can be a Christian and at the same time not love God. In response to Zane Hodges book, John MacArthur wrote The Gospel According to Jesus; in his book, he argued that true salvation involves a lifelong commitment to Jesus, which is the evidence of true biblical belief. Those who agreed with Zane Hodges labeled the teachings of people like John MacArthur as Lordship Salvation. Those who agreed with John MacArthur labeled the teachings of people like Zane Hodges as Easy Believism. Far from being a modern controversy, the argument between Hodges and MacArthur was simply an old theological debate dressed in newer garb. I do not have the time to give a history lesson as to what led up to Hodges and MacArthur duking it out in the form of books, but you should know about the idea if you just believe and say a prayer, that you will be saved. There is a theological stream that led to language you are probably familiar with, such as: Ten said Yes to Jesus! Or you may have had someone in your life encourage you to repeat a prayer, for if you just say the words, you can be saved just so long as you believe the words to be true in your mind. In 1763, a well-known Scottish author and pastor named Robert Sandeman (17181771) arrived in Danbury, Connecticut. His central teaching was that bare assent to the work of Christ alone is necessary for salvation. In other words, Sandeman argued that simply believing in Jesus was enough to be savedyou didnt have to follow Him or demonstrate love for Him. In Sandemans view, requiring evidence of love or a changed life made works a necessary part of salvation, which he firmly rejected. By the time Sandeman set foot in Connecticut, his writings and ideas had already spread widely through American churches. Ezra Stiles, who befriended Sandeman and would later become president of Yale University, remarked, I believe he has sown a seed in America which will up and grow, though I have no apprehension of any great ill effect.[1] Sandemans doctrine, which came to be known as Sandemanianism and is now often labeled easy-believism, was more than a theological curiosityit ignited debate and concern that ripple through the church to this day. What academic circles now call Free Grace Theology became the very ground upon which Zane Hodges and John MacArthur sparred. The warnings of giants like John Wesley (an Arminian) and Andrew Fuller (a Calvinist), echo through history: Sandemanianism, they cautioned, might lull the church into a shallow faith, one that confuses mere intellectual agreement with living trust. Its legacy remains, challenging and shaping the contours of American evangelicalism across generations. My hope today is not that you are more informed, but that you are more grounded in the Bible. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter what I think; what matters is what does the Bible have to say about it! So, let us turn to our text this morning to find out. A Grounded Faith is an Active Faith (vv. 14-17) James askes a question in verse 14, What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? He then gives us an example of what a faith devoid of works looks like in real-time: If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that (v. 15)? What is James getting at in these verses? He is picking up on what He said in 2:1-13 and forcing us to take a long, hard look into the mirror of Gods word to examine our hearts. If you say that your faith is in Jesus as the One who died for your sins and rose from the grave, then how can you pass by a brother or sister who shares your faith in Jesus who is in need and do nothing to help that person? Genuine faith will result in genuine, although not perfect, love for those who share in your faith in Jesus? Just so you know, James is not the only one who asks this question. The apostle John had some things to say about a faith grounded in Jesus being an active faith: Beloved, lets love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:7-10). Where on earth did John and James get their understanding of genuine faith from? They both got it from Jesus, who said, I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another(John 13:34). Again, John wrote in his epistle, This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:23-24). But, John and James are not the only ones who understood that a faith grounded in Jesus was an active faith, for the apostle Paul wrote: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10). Listen, salvation is the free gift of God made available through His Son that you cannot earn or work for. However, when you are genuinely saved by Jesus, you are then born again (John 3:1-21). When you are born again you go from being spiritually dead, to being made spiritually alive with Jesus (Eph. 2:1-6). The evidence that you are alive with Christ is a faith that is living! In the words of Paul, and in light of our salvation that is from God, you are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called... Paul did not stop there, he continued: walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-2). The clearest sign of being born again is a life transformeda faith that is alive, first in love for God and then in love for others. This is why Jesus described a coming day of judgment, when all people will be separated into two groups: the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The difference between them will be revealed in how they responded, with love and compassion, to those in need. Jesus will say to the sheep, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt. 25:34-36). Those who ignored the brother or sister who was hungry, thirsty, need shelter, needed clothing, was sick and needed care, or was in prison... will hear these words: Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (25:41, 45-46). A Grounded Faith is a Sacrificial Faith (vv. 18-26) When it comes to what read in James and what we read in Pauls letters, Timothy Keller said when looking at something with only one eye, you lose depth perception. To appreciate something for what it really is, you need two eyes. Why? Because each eye is looking from a slightly different perspective at the same object, and as a result you see it better.[2] The problem with Robert Sandeman, Zane Hodges, and Free Grace Theology is that they are only looking at Scripture with one eye, and in doing so, their sermons and books suffer from a distorted theological depth perception problem. Do you want to know one way you can make sure you have both eyes open? Have one eye on the text you are reading and the other on the rest of Scripture. James is not saying works first then faith later; what he is saying is that a faith that has generated new life in God is a faith that acts on the belief it rests in. To say you believe is easy; to act upon your belief is evidence that you believe. This is James point in verse 18, But someone may well say, You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Let me share an illustration from our family that may help you understand what James is saying here. Recently our family went on an Alaskan cruse; we probably never would have gone on a cruise during this season in our lives had it not been for my mother and step-father inviting us to go with them with all expenses paid on our behalf. Not only was the cruise paid for, but all of our travel expenses were paid for too! The package that my mother and stepfather paid for included all of our meals, and that the cruise line provided a medallion that we could either wear around our neck, or our wrist, which functioned as a pass for just about everything, including anything we wanted to eat or drink. We were told that we could order anything we wanted from an app on our phones that was synced to our medallion and that a server would deliver the food to us no mater were we were. All of it was paid for and I did not have to do a thing to earn it. However, my belief that was true was evidenced by acting upon the gift that was bought and paid for on my behalf. The difference between my experience on the Alaskan cruise and being born again, is that with my salvation came a new nature that involved a heart change. So what happened when I genuinely believed the gospel of Jesus Christ? I received the promise of Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I received the circumcision of the heart promised in Deuteronomy 30:6 that frees me up to Love God with all my heart and all of my soul, so that I may live. Here is how the NLT translates this verse: The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! James is saying that if you really believe what you say you believe, then the evidence that you really do believe will be seen in your actions. But James is not just talking about acting in light of what you believe, no... he is talking about something more than intellect and actions. Notice what he says in verse 19, You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. Do you see what James is doing here? The demons do not have a theological problem when it comes to their intellect, but they do have a heart problem! The fruit of genuine belief that involves the mind and heart are actions that reveal that a spiritual resurrection has taken place and that you have gone from death to life. Faith without action reveals a deeper issuea problem of the heart. If faith shows no signs of life, it isnt truly alive. To illustrate this, James points to two powerful examples from Scripture: Abraham and Rahab. Both demonstrated their genuine belief in God not just through words, but through courageous acts of obedience. They trusted God so completely that they were willing to risk everything, proving that living faith always moves us to action, even when it requires sacrifice. Conclusion Consider Abrahams journeya life seasoned with trials and tests, both by circumstance and by his own choices. For years, Abraham and Sarah hoped and longed for the promise of an heir to become their reality. Miraculously God fulfilled His promise to the elderly couple and when we reach the dramatic moment in Genesis 22 that James refers to, God commanded Abraham to do the unthinkablesacrifice Isaac. Abrahams faith had been forged in the furnace of experience. He was finally able to trust God, even when the command seemed impossible to understand. When Abraham, Isaac, and their servants arrived at the mountain, Abraham told his servants, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you (Gen. 22:5). Despite the looming test, Abraham expressed confidence that both he and Isaac would return. This conviction shows that Abrahams faith wasnt just a matter of wordshe truly believed that God was both good and powerful enough to raise the dead if necessary. James continues in verse 25, In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? The messengers were spies that Joshua sent into Jericho to assess what they were up against. When the king of Jericho learned that the spies were in Jericho, he searched for them, but Rahab hid them. Before she helped them escape undetected, she said to them: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt.... When we heard these reports, our hearts melted and no courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below. (Josh. 2:9-11) The evidence that she really did believe what she said about the God of the Hebrews is seen in her hiding the spies and then helping them escape at great personal risk to herself. Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, but he did not have to because God provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. Many years later, the Son of God would climb up to the top of Golgotha out of obedience to His Father to die for sins we are guilty of. Jesus died to redeem and make you new for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Rahab hid and protected the spies when there was no law requiring her to do so. In so doing, her life was not only spared, but God had a greater purpose she could not have been aware existed, to include her great grandchild being King David, and from David would come the promises King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. So, I leave you with a few questions: What is your Isaac that God is asking you to place upon His altar of sacrifice and why have you been reluctant to do so? What is your Jericho that God is asking you to forsake, and why have you been reluctant to let it go? Remember that God is asking these things of you because He is both holy and good. You say that you believe God to be so, therefore trust Him by obeying Him. Christian, God loves you and He ultimately intends good for you. [1] https://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/connecticut/sandeman.htm [2] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

Jesus took Peter, James and John, and he led them up a high mountain apart by themselves, and he was transfigured before them. The Transfiguration on Mount Tabor was a preparation for that other mountain, Mount Calvary, Golgotha. Jesus calls upon us to become another Christ, to embrace the Cross. A meditation by Father Thomas Bohlin.

Re-post: In the seventh episode of our series, Jonah and Patrick explore the new role of purity in shadow work, transformed through what took place on Golgotha, the place where Christ's Mystery is revealed. With Christ's death, resurrection and revelation, God is now with us in this world. The old pre-Christian paths of purification are no longer appropriate. Our shadows belong to us and call for integration. There is a new path to a new kind of purity that unlocks the power contained in the shadow and unites us with Christ in the process.Support the showThe Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary. Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together,” and the legacy of our original show-notes and patreon producer, Camilla Lake.

Send us a textStrong Women Strong WorldMary | Part 6Senior Pastor Keith StewartAugust 3, 2025Mary is the fourth-most mentioned New Testament character after Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Yet in the average Protestant church, she is typically ignored. Rarely will you hear a message devoted just to telling Mary's story. Or if you do, it sounds more like a sappy Hallmark commercial than the portrait we actually see of her in Scripture. It's time we get to know this prophetic, powerful woman who consistently points us to Jesus.____________Discussion Questions 1. What perceptions did you have of Mary before hearing today's message? If you have a church background, what sort of teaching did you have from pastors or other leaders in your church? If you have no church background, what was your understanding of Mary? 2. The level of poverty in first century Palestine was severe – affecting the vast majority of those who lived there. It's something that the holy family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) experienced daily both personally and socially. People were hungry for hope in the midst of economic despair. Mary's song prophesies a new reality. In what ways has the church throughout the ages addressed the problems of poverty? If you don't know the answer to this question, use it as your homework assignment. 3. In this message, Pastor Keith addressed Mary's calling, her prophecy, how she prophecies, her Scriptural knowledge, and the things she predicted about her Son. Have you ever thought of Mary as a prophet? What stood out to you most about this? Why do you think so many churches downplay Mary's role as a prophet?  4. When it comes to the telling of the Christmas story, Pastor Keith laid the blame at the feet of the Church that has often watered down the radical and revolutionary message of Mary. Why is the church often the ones most guilty of telling a truncated, sanitized, overly simplified Christmas story? Luke's gospel is the most common Scripture read as it relates to Christmas, but the part about the Magnificat is almost always left out. Why is that? 5. There are definite and intentional parallels between the story of Eden and the story of Golgotha. Take some time to review this part of the message. List the parallels you remember. Why does this matter? How does it reflect the amazing unity of Scripture?

August 3, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 12:13-21Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:48-18:9; Acts 27:9-26“And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 17:49)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we picture God going into his armory to find the right weapons to fight for and rescue his people, we might picture something like John Wick's request for guns…lots and lots of guns—or Iron Man climbing into the Hulkbuster or Batman going into the Batcave and hopping into the Batwing. But God's weaponry quite often looks different than how we would imagine it, and his way of fighting his enemies is even more unexpected.The story of David is a classic example. Saul's men try to outfit him with the latest armor, sword, and shield like he's gearing up to play Call of Duty. But God has something better in mind. Rocks. That's right. David takes five smooth stones and his sling onto the battlefield where Goliath rages, taunts, and defies God. But no sooner does Goliath, the enemy of God's people, issue a challenge than God throws down a gauntlet of his own, launched straight from the arm of his servant, David. That's one small stone for David, one giant slayed by a stone to the noggin. This isn't the last time God would defeat his enemies with unlikely weaponry, nor is it the last time God would use a rock to hurl defeat at his enemies. David's Son and David's Lord, Jesus, works with the same battle tactic in the New Testament as he did in the Old. He wraps himself not in the finest bronze armor, but in human flesh. He wields the sword of his word against Satan in the wilderness. Then, in the climactic battle on Golgotha, he slays the dragon, not with five stones, but with wood and nail and blood and death. Jesus overcomes death by death, letting death overcome him. Jesus battles and wins the victory over our sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus, the Son of David, slays Goliath by hurling the stone of his empty tomb wide open in resurrected victory three days later.But the Lord doesn't stop there. He marches straight into this fallen world to arm you for your daily battle against the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh. And once again, he equips you with the most unlikely, yet the most powerful of weapons, his word, his robe of righteousness, his forgiveness, Baptism, and Body and Blood. And in these Gifts, given to you by our Lord and Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly armies, you stand firm and victorious.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer; Great Captain now Thine arm make bare, Fight for us once again! So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise A mighty chorus to Thy praise Forevermore Amen. (LSB 666:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

Greg and Best-Selling Author Carl Gallups discuss stunningly unique Biblical disclosures from Genesis to Revelation. Gallups has been the senior pastor of one church on the NW Florida Gulf Coast since 1987. CarlGallups.com

The King Dies G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 21 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Last time we looked at Jesus at prayer. Today we look at the events leading to his death and burial. Jesus has been arrested and bought to trial before the High priest. All the disciples have abandoned him, but Peter follows on from distance, even denying he knew Jesus 3 times! The guards then beat Jesus. Caiaphas the High Priest condemns Jesus and Jesus is taken to the Praetorium for trial by the Romans. That is where we will pick up the story... 1. Jesus was Condemned So firstly lets look at Jesus' condemnation before the Romans. Reading from John 19v1 to 16: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement. It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea and he had the power to release or condemn any prisoner. It was he that made the decision and gave the order for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate gave into the whims of the Jewish religious leaders and the baying crowd, permitting the flogging and mockery of Jesus in the hope of shaming his accusers (John 19vs. 1-3). Pilate even affirmed Jesus' innocence after the scourging (John 19v4). Jesus' refusal to answer stung Pilate into reminding Jesus of his Roman authority (John 19v10). Jesus, however, corrected Pilate's idea of authority and told him that although Pilate may have power on earth, his power did not reach beyond earth (John 19v11). Jesus knew that his work of bring people back to God in a loving relationship did not rest on the actions of a mere Roman governor. Pilate was more concerned with his own position than he was for justice. 2. Jesus was Crucified So Jesus was condemned to die. Now lets look at John 19v17-24 and Jesus' crucifixion. Reading from John 19v17-24: Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others-one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. Jesus bearing his own cross, was killed as a common criminal (John 19v17). Despite that, even when he himself was in utter agony, Jesus showed concern for his mother, committing her into the care of the Apostle John (John 19v26-27). The site of crucifixion was purposely chosen to be outside the city walls because the Jewish Law forbade such acts within the city walls. For sanitary reasons, the crucified body was often left to rot on the cross, a disgraceful reminder of what happened to criminals and serving as deterrent to passers-by. Jesus face had been beaten beyond recognition and the scourging had reduced his flesh to something like raw hamburger mince. The whips used had pieces of glass and rocks stuck to the cord so as to inflict as much damage as possible. He had a crown of thorns pushed into his scalp. 3. Jesus dies Jesus finally dies in utter agony, humiliation and disgrace. Let us look together at John 19v28-37. Reading John 19v28-30 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. In Jesus' final moments he uttered "I am thirsty." (John 19v28) and "It is finished." (John 19v30). The desire of the Jews (John 19v32) to fulfil their rituals was important because the Sabbath fell within the Passover festival. The breaking of legs (John 19vs.32-33) sped up the process of death. The piercing of Jesus' side and the flow of blood and water proved Jesus was really dead (John 19v34). At the cross, Jesus' mission is accomplished. At the cross, this God-man, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all sin of all time. We will come to look at how this can be this later in the series. Some people say that Jesus didn't die on the cross, but rather somebody was made to be His substitute. But this is impossible. Nobody could have been a substitute or the Jewish leaders would have said so. The Romans were renowned for keeping strict discipline and regimen and nobody would have been able to get in amongst the Roman soldiers and somehow substitute themselves for Jesus. Yes, somebody else carried the cross for Him, but nobody but Jesus was nailed to that cross. Jesus died on that cross and not some substitute. 4. Jesus was Buried Reading John 19v41-42 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. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19v38-42 tells us of Jesus' burial. Two men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Jesus in an unused tomb. The significance of "in which no-one had ever been laid" (John 19v41) is to demonstrate that the body of Jesus at no point came into contact with the decay of a dead body. But that is not the end of the story! Oh no! There is more to come as you will see! Thank you! 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Todaywe're continuing in Luke 23:32-34. These three verses introduce us to Jesusbeing on the cross at Golgotha. This is one of the most special passages ofScripture in the Bible. All the Bible in the Old Testament points to this time,and all the time after this, points back to this time. This is the center andfocal point of eternity. This is where God Himself, who has taken on humanflesh, dies on a cross for all humanity. Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, camefor this very purpose and hour. Even while Jesus is suffering one of the mostcruel and painful deaths a human can experience, He is expressing compassionfor other Ithad been prophesied in Isaiah 53:12 that the Suffering Servant would be "numberedwith the transgressors". Jesus Himself mentioned this passage on Hisway to the cross in Luke 22:37. This is fulfilled by the fact that twocriminals were crucified with Jesus, men who were robbers according to Matthew27:38. The Greek word means "one who uses violence to rob openly," incontrast to the thief who secretly enters a house and steals. These two men mayhave been guilty of armed robbery involving murder. Lukepoints out in verse 33 that Jesus “was crucified in a place called Calvary”.The name Calvary comes from the Latin calvaria which means "askull." (The Greek is kranion, which gives us the English word cranium,and the Aramaic word is Golgotha.) The name is not explained in the NewTestament. The site may have resembled a skull, as does "Gordon'sCalvary" near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Or perhaps the namesimply grew out of the ugly facts of execution. There are many who believe thatJesus was crucified and buried in a place in Old City Jerusalem that today is knownas the “Church of the Holy Sepulchre”, which is one of the most visited touristsites in all the world. At Gordon's Tomb, the guides always remind us that thewhether the place is there or at the church site, the main thing is that Jesuswas crucified. OurLord was crucified about 9 a.m. and remained on the cross until 3 p.m.; andfrom noon to 3 p.m., there was darkness over all the land (Mark 15:25, 33).Jesus spoke seven times during those six terrible hours: "Father,forgive them" (Luke 23:34). "Todayyou will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). "Woman,behold your son" (John 19:25-27).(Thenthe three hours of darkness when Jesus is silent) "MyGod, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46) "Ithirst" (John 19:28). "Itis finished!" (John 19:30) "Father,into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46).  Lukerecorded only three of these seven statements, the first, the second, and thelast. Our Lord's prayer for His enemies, and His ministry to a repentant thief,fit in well with Luke's purpose to show Jesus Christ as the sympathetic,compassionate Son of man who cared for the needy. Whilethey were nailing Him to the cross, He repeatedly prayed, "Father, forgivethem; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Not only was Hepracticing what He taught (Luke 6:27-28), but He was fulfilling prophecy andmaking "intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Wemust not infer from His prayer that ignorance is a basis for forgiveness, orthat those who sinned against Jesus were automatically forgiven because Heprayed. Certainly, both the Jews and the Romans were ignorant of the enormityof their sin, but that could not absolve them. The Law provided a sacrifice forsins committed ignorantly, but there was no sacrifice for deliberatepresumptuous sin (Ex. 21:14; Num. 15:27-31; Ps. 51:16-17). It is possible thatit was our Lord's intercession that postponed God's judgment on the nation foralmost forty years, giving them additional opportunities to be saved (Acts3:17-19).  Christ'slove and compassion is still being expressed today giving us ample time torepent and be saved. Godbless!

Aswe study Luke 23, a good way to recall the events of this chapter is to rememberthat Jesus had seven encounters or conversations with at least seven people orgroups. There was Pilate (vv. 1-25); King Herod (vv. 7-12); Simon the Cyrenian(v. 26); the Jerusalem women (vv. 27-31); the two criminals (vv. 32-43); HisFather (vv.44-49); and Joseph of Arimathea. Whenwe arrive at Luke 23:27-31 Jesus has already gone through terrible beatings andsuffering. At this point, on the way to Golgotha, He is not able to carry Hiscross and Simon of Cyrene is carrying it for Him.  It is now that He has a word for the women ofJerusalem.  Lukeinforms us that “a great multitude of the people followed Him” (v. 27). Publicexecutions drew crowds of spectators, and one involving Jesus would especiallyattract attention. Add to this the fact that Jerusalem was crowded withpilgrims, possibly over a million people could have been in the city at thetime of Passover, so it is not difficult to believe that a "greatmultitude" was following the condemned Man to Calvary. Inthat crowd was a group of women who openly wept and lamented as theysympathized with Jesus and contemplated the terrible spiritual condition oftheir nation. It has been pointed out by Bible commentators, that as far as theGospel records are concerned, no woman was ever an enemy of Jesus. Nor wasJesus ever the enemy of womankind. His example, His teachings, and most of all,His redemption have done much to dignify and elevate women.  Ifyou remember, the news of His birth was shared with a Jewish maiden, His deathwas witnessed by grieving women, and the good news of His resurrection wasannounced first to a woman who had been demon-possessed. Jesusappreciated their sympathy and used it to teach them and us an important lesson(vv. 28-31). While they were weeping over the injustice of one man's death, Jesuswas looking ahead and grieving over the terrible destruction of the entirenation, a judgment that was wholly justified. Jesus had told His disciplesabout this judgment in Luke 19:41-44: “Now as He drew near, He saw the cityand wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in thisyour day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden fromyour eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build anembankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and levelyou, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave inyou one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of yourvisitation."  Jesuslooking ahead, even on His way to the cross, knew it would be the women andchildren who would suffer the most, a fact supported by history. Just fortyyears later in 70AD, when Titus and the Romans army surrounded Jerusalem, they attemptedto starve the Jews into submission. It has been noted by historians that hungrymen, defending their city, took food from their suffering wives and childrenand even killed and ate their own flesh and blood to keep enough strength tofight. It was a terrible terrible time of judgment that Jesus was speaking of. Thenation of Israel was like a "green tree" during the years when Jesuswas on earth. It was a time of blessing and opportunity, and it should havebeen a time of fruitfulness. But the nation rejected Him and became like a"dry tree," fit only for the fire. Jesus often would have gatheredHis people together, but they would not (Matthew 23:37-39). In condemning Him,they only condemned themselves. Wemight paraphrase His words: "If the Roman authorities do this to One whois innocent, what will they do to you who are guilty? When the day of judgmentarrives, can there be any escape for you?" Myfriend, Jesus has also warned us of another day of judgment coming. Will you beprepared? Godbless!

Welcome to the official Audio Guide to Burning Down the House By David Mach as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025. David Mach is one of the UK's most successful, prolific and respected artists, best known for his dynamic and large-scale collage, and his imposing and provocative public art, sculpture and installations constructed from mass-produced materials including coat hangers, car tyres, newspapers and magazines. Mach's previous sensational GIAF exhibitions – 2012's Precious Light which featured the enormous crucifixion sculpture Golgotha, made from steel and wire coat hangers, and 2018's Rock 'n' Roll which saw Mach place a yacht, car and a caravan with multiple other objects and debris within a monumental quantity of painstakingly positioned newspapers; and 2023's The Oligarch's Nightmare which featured an exploding Range Rover – enjoyed record-breaking audiences. He returns to the Festival with this new site-specific installation Burning Down the House at the Festival Gallery, William Street.  For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

Jesusis finally condemned by Pilate and sent to be crucified on Golgotha. Accordingto John's Gospel, Jesus is forced to bear His cross. “And He, bearingHis cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called inHebrew, Golgotha" (John 19:16-18). (By the way, Johnis the only Gospel that does not mention Simon of Cyrene by name.) Matthew'sGospel tells it this way: “Now asthey came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. " (Matthew 27:31-33). Mark'sGospel gives us some additional information about Simon of Cyrene. “And whenthey had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him,and led Him out to crucify Him. Then they compelled a certain man, Simon aCyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of thecountry and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the placeGolgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull” (Mark 15:20-22) Historyalso gives us some information about the country of Cyrene where Simon wasfrom: Jews began migrating to Cyrene as early as the 3rd century BCE, primarilyunder Ptolemy I's policy to strengthen Cyrenaica, with further migrationsoccurring during the Roman period. The reasons for migration included politicalstrategies (Ptolemaic resettlement), economic opportunities (Cyrene'sprosperity and trade), religious connections (ties to Jerusalem), and, in laterperiods, escape from persecution or instability in other regions. By the timeof Simon of Cyrene in the 1st century CE, the Jewish community in Cyrene waswell-established, influential, and closely linked to Jerusalem, as evidenced bytheir synagogue and presence at major Jewish festivals. Cyrene was located inpresent day Libya next to Egypt. Itwas a part of the prisoner's humiliation that he carry his own cross to theplace of execution, so when Jesus left Pilate's hall, He was carrying eitherthe cross or the crossbeam (John 19:17). Apparently, He was unable to go on,for the soldiers had to "draft" Simon of Cyrene to carry the crossfor Him. (This was a legal Roman procedure. See Matt. 5:41.) When you considerall that Jesus had endured since His arrest in the Garden, it is not difficultto imagine Him falling under the load. But there is something more involved:carrying the cross was a sign of guilt, and our Lord was not guilty! Thousandsof Jews came to Jerusalem from other nations to celebrate the feasts (Acts2:5-11), and Simon was among them. He had traveled over 800 miles from Africato celebrate Passover, and now he was being humiliated on a most holy day! Whatwould he say to his family when he got home? But might have looked to Simon like a catastrophe turned out to be awonderful opportunity, for it brought him in contact with Jesus Christ. Simonprobably had come into the city of Jerusalem to attend the 9 a.m. prayermeeting in the temple, but got caught up in the crowd following Jesus to Hiscrucifixion. But God's providence place him in the right place at exactly theright time. It was then that the soldiers “compelled” him to carry the cross ofJesus.  Wehave good reason to believe that Simon was converted because of this encounterwith Jesus. Mark identified him as "the father of Alexander andRufus" (Mark 15:21), two men that Mark assumed his Roman readers wouldknow. A Christian named Rufus was greeted by Paul in Romans 16:13, and it ispossible that he was the son of Simon of Cyrene. Apparently Simon and his twosons became well-known Christians who were held in honor in the church. BeforeSimon met Jesus, he had religion and devotion; but after he met Jesus, he hadreality and salvation. He did both a physical and spiritual "aboutface" that morning, and it transformed his life. God can still useunexpected and difficult situations, even humiliating situations, to bringpeople to the Savior. What is your story?

Alien dolphin saviors in live action LDR? Why not! Aliens have arrived and they seek an audience with the dolphin named Blackfin, as well as a local priest who apparently…

Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" This glorious promise carries us from Calvary's crimson hill, to the spacious plains of God's boundless provision. The Father, having offered His beloved Son as a substitutionary sacrifice for His people, thereby demonstrated that every cost of our redemption was borne in full. If the Sovereign of Heaven did not count the anguish of Golgotha too great to spare His only-begotten Son, then will He now withhold from us any good thing? Never! The gift of Christ for our salvation, secures every lesser gift. As we behold the infinite compassion manifested in the cross, we trust that such love will daily supply our every need. If God did not spare His beloved Son for us, then He will withhold no needful blessing from those for whom Jesus died. If God has given you Jesus, then He has engaged all the riches of Heaven for your good. He who gave the greater, will not deny the lesser. If God feeds His birds, then surely He will not starve His babes. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end--all this our Savior has promised to give. Believer, when fear whispers that your burdens exceed your Father's care, return to Calvary. There you see the height of His giving--and there you find the answer to your every need. Rather than sinking under anxiety, let faith boldly think: "Will my God, who gave His darling Son for my salvation--refuse to give me daily bread, comfort in sorrow, or needed strength? No trial can outstrip His upholding grace; no Scriptural request can exceed His generosity. Heavenly Father,

The crucifixion stands as the pivotal moment in human history—the hinge point where everything changed. Join us as we explore Mark's account of Jesus' death, unpacking the profound theological significance beneath the deceptively simple words, "they crucified him."We begin at Golgotha, examining the possible connections between Christ's crucifixion and Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac centuries earlier. This extraordinary parallel reveals God's consistent character throughout salvation history, providing the ultimate sacrifice Himself rather than merely requiring one from us.What strikes many is Jesus' deliberate refusal of pain-dulling wine mixed with myrrh. Unlike most crucifixion victims who gladly accepted any relief, Jesus chose to experience the full, unmitigated suffering with complete clarity of mind. This decision reveals the intentional nature of His sacrifice—He came to earth specifically to die, and would do so with full awareness.Perhaps most mysterious is the supernatural darkness that fell at midday during the crucifixion. This wasn't a natural eclipse (impossible during Passover's full moon) but a divine sign of judgment and mourning as Jesus bore the weight of human sin. When he finally cried out and gave up his spirit—not as one whose life was taken, but as one who sovereignly surrendered it—even the hardened Roman centurion recognized something extraordinary had occurred.The account ends with a touching detail often overlooked: while the male disciples fled, a group of faithful women stayed to witness everything. These same women would follow Jesus' body to the tomb and return to find it empty—providing crucial eyewitness testimony to both his death and resurrection.The cross isn't the end of the story, but rather sets the stage for the resurrection. Join us next time as we continue exploring how this darkest moment in history brings us the brightest hope for eternity.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Romans 5:20, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." Sin is not merely the breaking of a rule--it is rebellion against the infinite majesty and holiness of God. It is treason against the sovereign King of Heaven. It is a monstrous defilement of the soul, a willful choosing of darkness over light, a loathing of God's commandments, and a love for what He hates. Sin pollutes every part of our being--our minds are blinded, our hearts are deceitful, our wills are enslaved. Sin makes us loathsome in God's sight, and fit only for eternal judgment. Scripture does not soften the description: we are "dead in transgressions and sins," "children of wrath," "slaves to sin," and "enemies of God." The horror of our sin is not measured by how we see it, but by how God sees it--as that which nailed His beloved Son to the cross! And yet, into that blackness shines a light so glorious that no mind could have imagined it, and no heart could have hoped for it--the grace of God! His grace is unearned, undeserved, and unrepayable. It is His free favor poured out on the utterly un-deserving, ill-deserving and Hell-deserving. Grace finds us filthy, and makes us pure. Grace finds us guilty, and declares us righteous. Grace finds us enemies of God, and makes us His sons and daughters. Nowhere are sin and grace manifested as clearly, than at Golgotha. There, the horror of our sin is exposed in full; for only the blood of the sinless Son of God could make atonement for it! His groans, His wounds, His forsakenness--all cry out against our guilt. At Golgotha also, the wonder of grace shines brightest. Jesus bore our sin, that we might bear His righteousness. He was cursed, that we mig

“There brake He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle.” — Psalm 76:3 Our Redeemer's glorious cry of “It is finished,” was the death-knell of all the adversaries of His people, the breaking of “the and the battle.” Behold the hero of Golgotha using His cross as an anvil, […]

Thought to share? Send me a text...Standing at the foot of Golgotha 40 years ago, I experienced a holy feeling that made Jesus's sacrifice tangible despite being in a modern bus parking lot. Jesus positioned himself at the center—between two criminals, between heaven and hell, between judgment and mercy—showing his role as the bridge between God and humanity.• Jesus declared as King in three languages on the sign above his cross• Possible acronym in Hebrew that spelled YHWH (God)• Women and John able to stand near the cross while other disciples had to flee• Jesus, despite his suffering, provided for his mother by entrusting her to John• Mary and John later lived together in Ephesus where they served the church• Jesus sees us in our darkest moments just as he saw his mother at the cross• When we feel unseen, we can remember Jesus's deeply compassionate characterTake a moment to ponder: Where do you feel unseen right now? Invite the Holy Spirit to show you where Jesus is waiting to meet you with his compassionate gaze.To read my blog, find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to https://betsymarvin.com/For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head tohttps://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/You can follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/and Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 17 Scripture: Luke 23:26-34, Mark 15:21, Hosea 10:8, John 19:19-27, Mark 15:29-32, Luke 23:39-43, Matthew 27:45-49, Psalm 22, John 19:28-30., Luke 23:46, Psalm 31:5, Matthew 27:50-54. Today we take a look at a moving, powerful and emotionally packed teaching on the subject of Jesus' crucifixion.  We will explore the accounts of Jesus' crucifixion using all four gospels as each gives us unique details and special insights. Jesus' crucifixion was painful, prolonged, humiliating and demeaning, but the four gospel writers do not dwell on the sufferings of Jesus. What they dwell on is what He won for us and what He offers to each of us. Our story opens with Jesus' walk to Golgotha (Hebrew word - translates to “Place of the Skull” - Calvary - is the Latin word for ‘Place of the Skull.”) As Jesus was brutally beaten, tortured and whipped He is exhausted, weak, in great pain and unable to carry His cross to Golgotha, so Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus' first words from the cross were “Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing.” A display of His love even from the cross, even in extreme suffering and incredible pain, He cries out on behalf of others. Don't ever doubt God's love. No matter how we've fallen, our God loves us dearly! The enemy likes to make us think that God is the bad guy, but the truth is - if you want to know what God is like and want to know how He feels about you, then all you have to do is look at Jesus, the One who is the visible image of the invisible God - and He says, Father, forgive them.” He offers mercy to all of us - we all are sinners and we all need a Savior and that's who Jesus is! Our story continues with Pilate making a sign in 3 languages: Hebrew, Latin and Greek. The sign says, “King of the Jews.” The way Romans announced the crime for which the individual was being executed was to post it over their heads on their cross. When Pilate had the sign placed above Jesus' head the Chief Priests became upset. Pastor takes time to dig into some truly interesting insights into why the sign made them so angry. The next words Jesus says are to His mother and the disciple next to her at the foot of His cross. He says, “Woman, here is your son.” And to the disciple He says, “Here is your mother.” Jesus' second set of words from the cross were again for others and of showing his deep love and concern for His mother. Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one of them joins the crowd in mocking Jesus. The one not joining the crowd says to the one that was, “Don't you fear God? This man has done nothing wrong,..” Then turning to Jesus he says, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” This criminal displays great faith in asking, Jesus, who is beaten, brutalized and nailed to a cross, “Remember me!” This man saw what is unseen - He saw into heaven. He saw what is true.  Again Jesus' words are for others, these comforting words of promise given this man hanging on the cross next to Him. The promise is for all those who believe in Him, that we will be with Him and we will see His kingdom in all its glory and fulfillment. As we continue with the story, darkness came over the land in the middle of the day and Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus endured the judgement of God for us - He became sin for us. Pastor talks about these very words of being forsaken having been written in Psalm 22, 1000 years earlier, and they were words that every Jew was familiar with. Pastor shares how that would have impacted those around Him hearing Him say these words - they were a testimony to who Jesus is! Then Jesus says, “I am thirsty.” And He is offered wine vinegar on a sponge on the end of a hyssop stalk. Pastor shares insight into this prophetic action of using the hyssop stalk being lifted to Jesus to drink from.  When Jesus had the drink, He said, “It is finished.” Meaning PAID IN FULL. The debt for sin was paid. The price for our salvation has been paid in full. Jesus drank the cup of the wrath of God, He is the sacrificial victim - the Real Passover Lamb, who offered up His blood for us all and His blood covers our sin. And then Jesus' speaks, “Father, into Your hand I commit My Spirit.” And He dies.     ⁃    The price is paid     ⁃    The battle is won     ⁃    The victory is assured At Jesus' last words the curtain of the Temple is torn in two. Why?… This was a massive curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies where a High Priest went once a year before God making atonement for the sins of the people. Now all of a sudden people, not just the High Priests can look into the Holy of Holies and have access to the Living God. God dealt with human sin in the very Person of His own Son. The curtain is now open and the way to the Father is exposed - all are given access into the place where only a High Priest could go because Jesus open it through His sacrifice on the cross. Our time together ends with the words of the centurion guarding Jesus on the cross as the day turned dark, as the curtain tore, as the earth shook, rocks split and people walked out of tombs, the centurion exclaims, “Surely, He was the Son of God!” What a shocking day this was!  This was the day the Savior gave His life for all! And it changed everything because now - He offers life to all who believe in Him. Join us next time as we discover that Jesus is our Victor! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry. The earth shakes concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.  This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

THE GOSPEL is encoded into the very letters used to write the first verse of the Bible.Carl Gallups, author of the forthcoming book Golgotha's Groaning, shows us why we can't separate the New Testament from the Old because God's covenant with us is built into the alphabet used by the prophets.

There is a hill outside the city of Jerusalem called Golgotha or also called Calvary, both words meaning skull. The hill was given it's name because of it's shape of a skull. Do you think that was an accident? It was here on top of this skull shaped hill that Jesus was crucified on the […]

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (04/18/25), Hank picks up his overview of the days of Holy Week, arriving at Holy Friday, the day a united Church is brought face-to-face with the fatal torment of Jesus Christ. A torment that began in the garden of Gethsemane following the emotional Last Supper of Holy Thursday. That night, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, disowned by Peter, and arrested by the temple guard. Before Caiaphas the high priest, he was mocked, beaten, and spat upon. The next morning, Jesus—battered, bruised, and bleeding—was stripped and subjected to the brutality of Roman flogging, reducing his body to quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. As Christ slumped into the pool of his blood, soldiers threw a scarlet robe across his shoulders, thrust a scepter into his hands, and pressed sharp thorns into his scalp. After they mocked him, they took the scepter and repeatedly struck him on the head. A heavy wooden beam was thrust upon his bleeding body, and he was led away to a place called Golgotha. There, the Lord of glory experienced ultimate physical torture in the form of the cross.Today, as we remember the passion of the Christ upon the cross, as we recall his dying words, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit,” we are reminded that we, too, will breathe our last. Whether we are old or young, rich or poor, male or female, we light the sky for the briefest of moments. And then eternity. In the meantime, what we do today will have direct consequences for all eternity. Thus, while the culture seeks to focus your gaze on greatness, Christ rightly focuses your gaze on grace and godliness.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (04/17/25), Hank resumes his overview of Holy Week with Holy Thursday, the epicenter of the divine narrative. A narrative that begins with the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. If Adam and Eve had rejected the serpent, they would have eaten from the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge would not have been withheld from them. Instead, they were exiled from the Edenic garden and from traversing the slope leading upward toward the peak of deification. Thankfully, the narrative does not end there. For in the panoply of history, a Second Adam clothed himself in fallen humanity. It was above all in his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead that Christ returned humanity to the life of Eden. This then, is the great arc of the biblical narrative. From the tree of life in the Edenic garden to the tree of life in the eternal garden. An arch that finds its apex with the Eucharistic bounty spilling forth from the trodden grapes of Golgotha's hill. The Last Supper that we commemorate on Holy Thursday constitutes the central mystery of the Church. It is the source and zenith of Church life. By it, we are changed from human multiplicity to one body in Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Within the Eucharistic assembly, divine life flows into us and penetrates the fabric of our humanity. The future life is infused into the present one and is blended with it, so that our fallen humanity may be transformed into the glorified humanity of the new Adam, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today’s Bible Verse: ““Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).” - John 19:17