“Going the wrong way!?”

50 Days to Freedom: Day Four

Gen 27:46-29:30

Jacob won the blessing, but lost his family.  As the heir to the promise, he puts the fulfillment of the promise in jeopardy by leaving the land.  

But before Jacob leaves the land of promise, God wants to meet with him.  He meets with him in a dream and through the dream, God renews the promise that He made to Abraham and Isaac to the next in line--Jacob.  As far as we know it, until that point, God was the God of Jacob’s father and grandfather.  Now, He is the God of Jacob.

Each generation needs to acknowledge God for themselves.  It is not enough for us to worship the god of our fathers.  God, if he is real in our life must be our God.  But do you also see how God takes advantage of the transition in Jacob’s life in order to draw him back.  Jacob was leaving the comfort of his mother and the safety of his father’s house, he was on his own and ready to come back to God.

We must be watchful through the transitions in our life, from school to work, beginning a dating relationship, marriage, kids, jobs, moves, and the empty nest.  These are all opportunities for us to draw nearer to God and HIs freedom or to slip away from God towards bondage.  The upsetting of circumstances gives us an opportunity to take the newfound chaos and to entrust it into God’s hands ordering it for Him.  Or, we can take the newfound chaos and find something other than Him to order it around.  

What opportunities lie before you in this season to take vulnerable places of transition in your life and entrust them to God?  What competitors to God lie out there to steal your trust, hope and sense of order?

Click on the title above to comment, I'd like to hear your thoughts!

Posted by Marc

"Isn't he rightly named Jacob!"

50 Days to Freedom, Day Three

Gen 25:19-34, 27:1-45

That was Esau's cry to his father on account of his brother’s final betrayal? “Jacob” in Hebrew means “he takes by the heal” or “he cheats.” Jacob stole himself into Abraham’s line of blessing.The hope of the world is going to go through a deceptive and manipulative man. If the Bible was here to prove the superiority of God’s people over the nations, it is off to a bad start.  Abraham struggles to tell the truth, Isaac does the same. Rebekah fools her husband and Jacob has done nothing but repeatedly do whatever necessary in order to swindle himself into the first-born status. Not impressive from a religious perspective!  

Can we be honest in saying that this isn’t fair, at least from our perspective? Sure, Esau is foolish and a brute, but Jacob is a scoundrel! His mother isn’t any better. Should not there be at least some points for Esau as far as Isaac’s intention for his blessing?  

This underscores yesterday’s passage that teaches us that the extension of God’s grace is based upon His promise and not our merit. Jacob will feel the consequences of his character soon enough; but, what we see here is that favor comes to him in spite of his manipulations his unworthiness. 

What a comfort this reality can be to us! If God listens based upon our merit, we would have no hope for freedom. Quite often it is as we fail and feel and the brokenness of consequences and sin that we cry out for freedom with the most sincerity. 

What is commendable about Jacob is his desire to have the blessing, and his lack of shame in seeking it. Makes me think... Do I pray shamelessly for God’s blessing? Am I bold in His presence? Many of us are polite with God, thinking that it honors His holiness; yet, isn't our politeness really a cover for our distance. And aren't we distant because we don’t really believe in His grace... to believe that He will listen to us and generously give us, His children, what we ask for in His name according to His will?  

I'd love to know your thoughts - just click on today's title and it'll take you right to the comment section.  Thanks for reading today!

A New Beginning

Day Two of 50 Days to Freedom: Gen 12:1-20, Gen 15:1-21

If you are movie buffs, you need to understand the beginning of Gen 12 to be like:

Star Wars (the original) when Luke chooses to go with Ben Kenobi to save the world.

The Fellowship of the Ring when the Council of Elrond determines that Frodo will take the ring to be destroyed in the fires of Mordor.

Rocky, when Mickey decides to help Rocky prepare to find “that animal” Apollo Creed.”

Mission Impossible, when they hear, “your mission should you choose to accept it…”

This is God taking initiative to save the world.  He is going to choose one man, make him into a great family, which will become a great nation and through that nation, he will bring blessing to the world.  This is the salvation story in seed form.  Just like the story of those movies drive the turn of those scenes, the rest of scripture will watch this seed of the story take root, burst from the ground begin to bear fruit, fight off the threats to its life and eventually be the tree of life for the world.

If you look back at Genesis 10 and 11, people tried to regain their freedom on their own.  They would build a tower so they could oppose God.  They thought that God was the enemy of their freedom.  It was the other way around.  From that tower, God created all of the nations… then made one more, through Abraham that would bring salvation to the rest.

When we think about freedom, living free from sin and bondage, it is so important to remember that God is the one who takes initiative in our lives.  We aren’t standing alone in the world trying to shake off the chains that bind us.  The fact that we are seeking Him for freedom in and of itself is a sign that he has already been at work drawing us to himself, giving us a distaste for bondage and a longing for righteousness.  Gen 15:6 says “that Abraham believed God and God credited that to him righteousness.”  Abraham had not really done anything yet.  The first move for us for freedom is to believe that God is at work already and we are simply responding to his grace.

The Land of Hopes and Dreams

(click above to enter the blog and comment)

Day 1 - 50 Days till Freedom

Reading:  Genesis 1:26-31, 2:18-3:24

The words “freedom” and “church,” when spoken in the same sentence often produce in people a three-pronged counter-attack of raised eyebrows, cringed faces and flooded emotions that communicate their response that says “freedom” and “church” only belong together with the word “versus” between them.  This is because churches, for many people, have been experiences of “restriction” not freedom; yet, this is not how God intended it to be.

In these initial verses, a sense of clarity to what man and woman were supposed to do and be was formed. They were to take the newly formed creation and rule it, subdue its wildness and bring its chaos into a beautiful order; so that it reflected the image of God.  Adam began that work through naming the animals.  Remember, it was not just ordering the world that they were called to do, but to fill it with beauty.  Man and woman would accomplish this by bearing fruit and filling the world; filling the world with the image of the glory of God.  In the beginning there was clarity.

In the beginning there was also freedom.  They were free from death, sin, brokenness and shame.  The fact that they were naked and did not feel shame was a testament to their spiritual condition before God and before each other.

What broke everything was deception and the fall.  The fall of man damaged them and made their callings unclear and difficult.  From then on the work of bringing order came with sweat, bearing fruit came with pain, and the relationship between a man and woman was hindered by sin and brokenness. The calling of man and woman wasn’t removed. God himself did not remove their freedom to choose.  The curse of death, sin and brokenness entered and left a wake of bondage that would build upon itself; essentially strapping chains across each person born to Adam and Eve and their descendants. 

The curse wasn’t the final word.  The first five books of the Bible aren’t really about the fall and brokenness.  They are about God rolling out a plan to reverse the curse, save the world, and liberate His children to experience the true freedom He created them for.  

These next fifty days each blog entry will begin to unravel the story.  The story of the road to freedom that God leads his people on.  We hope you will follow along with us, and as you see the story of freedom for God’s ancient people unfold, may you see your story of freedom unfold as well.

Luke 24:1-53, Matthew 28:1-20

Have fun celebrating Easter!

(Click on the scripture references above and enter the Blog!  50 Days to Freedom, with commentary, will begin tomorrow)

Day Nineteen of Steps to the Cross: Luke 24:1-53, Matthew 28:1-20

Luke 24: 1-53

 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 

2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about

 this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.

 9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to t

he apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

 13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.

 17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

   They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

 19"What things?" he asked.

   "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

 25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ^[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled

 together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

 36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

 37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?

" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.

 44He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

 50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Footnotes:

a. Luke 24:13 Greek sixty stadia (about 11 kilometers)

b. Luke 24:26 Or Messiah; also in verse 46

Matthew 28:1-20

 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary we

nt to look at the tomb.

 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

 11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17Wh

en they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a]the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 28:19 Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2 and Gal. 3:27.

Tomorrow's Blog:

50 Days to Freedom (with commentary) will begin and run up to the day of Pentecost. This series will focus on God’s meeting the people of Israel in Egypt and leading them out of slavery into freedom; paralleling it with the freedom the gospel offers us. With bold faith and the grace of God we will learn how to be freed from the bondage of sin and to walk in the freedom of being God’s children.

Matthew 27: 1-6

(Click on the scripture reference above and enter the Blog! Get ready, on Easter Monday, 50 Days to Freedom, with commentary, will begin and run up to the day of Pentecost)

Day Eighteen of Steps to the Cross: Matthew 27: 1-66 

1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

 3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."       "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

 5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

 6The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." 7So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."^[a]

 11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

      "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

 12When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

 15Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

 19While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

 21"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. 
      "Barabbas," they answered.

22"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. 
      They all answered, "Crucify him!"

 23"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. 
      But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

 24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was

 starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

 25All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

 26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

 27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with g

all; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^[b] 36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

 41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,^[c] lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"^[d]

 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

 48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son^[e]of God!"

 55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

 62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

 65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 27:10 See Zech. 11:12,13; Jer. 19:1-13; 32:6-9.

b. Matthew 27:35 A few late manuscripts lots that the word spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled: "They divided my garments among themselves and cast lots for my clothing" (Psalm 22:18)

c. Matthew 27:46 Some manuscripts Eli, Eli

d. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1

e. Matthew 27:54 Or a son

Get ready.  The commentaries are coming back!

BFE writers are just about done their short 2 ½ week sabbatical from commentary. They are gearing up for Easter Monday!

Easter Monday, 50 Days to Freedom (with commentary) will begin and run up to the day of Pentecost. This series will focus on God’s meeting the people of Israel in Egypt and leading them out of slavery into freedom; paralleling it with the freedom the gospel offers us. With bold faith and the grace of God we will learn how to be freed from the bondage of sin and to walk in the freedom of being God’s children.

Luke 23: 1-56

What strikes you in this passage?  We’d love to hear it!  Click on the scripture reference above and enter the Blog!

Day Seventeen of Steps to the Cross: Luke 23: 1-56

 1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ,^[a] a king."

 3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 
      "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

 4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

 5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea^[b] by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

 6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

 13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."^[c^]

 18With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

 22For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

 23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

 26As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30Then 

   " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" 

      and to the hills, "Cover us!" '^[d] 31For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

 32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."^[e] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

 36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

 38There was a written notice above him, which read:THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

 40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[f]"

 43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

 50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Footnotes:

a. Luke 23:2 Or Messiah; also in verses 35 and 39

b. Luke 23:5 Or over the land of the Jews

c. Luke 23:16 Some manuscripts him." 17 Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the Feast.

d. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8

e. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.

f. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power

For a more meditative approach to your good friday, go over to the Paraclete Press website and listen to the passion narrative in Gregorian Chant and follow along in the text.  This chant takes you through the passion narrative of the gospel of John. Follow this link and click on "Play Passion Narrative" on the image.

Hey! Where did that commentary go?

BFE writers need a break sometimes; so, during Steps to the Cross, BFE writers are taking a short 2 ½ week sabbatical from commentary. But, they'll be back!

Easter Monday, 50 Days to Freedom (with commentary) will begin and run up to the day of Pentecost. This series will focus on God’s meeting the people of Israel in Egypt and leading them out of slavery into freedom; paralleling it with the freedom the gospel offers us. With bold faith and the grace of God we will learn how to be freed from the bondage of sin and to walk in the freedom of being God’s children.