Category Archives: Isaiah

A New Day: Garland Instead of Ashes, Part 4

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. Mark 16:1 Sabbath restrictions officially ended on Saturday evening around 6pm — technically it was after … Continue reading

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A New Day: Garland Instead of Ashes, Part 2

The Gospel writers make it very clear: Jesus died when He gave up His spirit. He was unjustly tried and beaten, as we discussed last week; but He died in the precise manner and at the precise moment that aligned … Continue reading

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A New Day: Garland Instead of Ashes, Part 1

Police officers in Oregon recently responded after a woman reported that a burglar was locked in her bathroom. She had come home and heard some strange sounds coming from her bathroom. As she cautiously approached the bathroom, she could see … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Suffering Servant, Part 5

While hanging on the cross, fully naked, Jesus was mocked by people heading into the city — for the site of the crucifixion was beside a main road leading into Jerusalem. The chief priests, scribes, the Roman soldiers, His fellow … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Suffering Servant, Part 4

Pilate then had Jesus flogged. The Jews had exact rules regarding this form of punishment. According to Deuteronomy 25, no one could be lashed more than forty times. So they typically flogged people up to 39 times. But Jesus was … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Suffering Servant, Part 3

Under Roman law, the Jewish leaders could not put anyone to death, so at daybreak the religious leaders sent Jesus to Pilate. Pilate was known for his cruelty. In fact, it was his cruelty that led to his downfall. His … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Suffering Servant, Part 2

The members of the Sanhedrin bribed Judas with thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. They needed Judas to show them where Jesus was staying, so they could arrest him in secret. They also needed Judas as a witness to … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Suffering Servant, Part 1

Today we have reached the heart of Isaiah’s message. He sees a new day when God’s Messiah would enter into the experience of human suffering on the cross. This is a claim so scandalous that Paul would later say, I … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Year of the Lord’s Favor, Part 4

Everything about the ministry of Jesus reflects the Kingdom of God. That means everything about the ministry of the church should also reflect the Kingdom of God. The church is to be an outpost of the Kingdom. That means our … Continue reading

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A New Day: The Year of the Lord’s Favor, Part 3

What really sets off the crowd in Nazareth are the two Old Testament examples Jesus uses as paradigms for His ministry: He says that there were plenty of Israelite widows in the days of Elijah, yet the prophet was not … Continue reading

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