Matthew 27 & 28

Jesus was a teacher, but that wasn't why he came. Jesus healed but that wasn't his primary purpose. Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice that would pay the penalty for our sin. Our sin was a death sentence and we were all guilty. But from the beginning of time God's plan was for Jesus to come and give himself for us. The events leading up to the crucifixion were all foretold by the Old Testament prophets. What an unbelievable gift that the creator of the universe would intentionally come to give himself for us. What a wonderful Savior!

Matthew 25 & 26

Jesus was a teacher, but that wasn't why he came. Jesus healed but that wasn't his primary purpose. Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice that would pay the penalty for our sin. Our sin was a death sentence and we were all guilty. But from the beginning of time God's plan was for Jesus to come and give himself for us. The events leading up to the crucifixion were all foretold by the Old Testament prophets. What an unbelievable gift that the creator of the universe would intentionally come to give himself for us. What a wonderful Savior!

Matthew 23 & 24

Jesus is coming again. No one knows when. No one. Many have predicted dates. All of them have been wrong. It is important that we stay ready. Some have advocated dropping out of life and waiting for his coming, but Jesus clearly values those who stay active at his work. A pastor friend of mine tells his church, "Work like Jesus is coming a hundred years from now. Live like He's coming back today." I think that's good counsel for us all. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (24:36)

Matthew 21 & 22

Jesus sure knows how to ruin a grand entrance. People are ready to jump on the Jesus bandwagon but he has to go to the temple and stir things up. His approval rating slid continuously after that. But Jesus resented that worship was becoming a business instead of a personal expression of love for God. As recipients of God's grace we are caretakers of an incalculable treasure. He expects us to share these riches, not to try to gather them all up in one place. If we love our neighbor as our self,  we will not see others as merchandise. We will do the most important work of the kingdom.

Matthew 19 & 20

The grace of Jesus is scandalous and unfair. He extends grace to everyone. Eternal life is there for the asking. But if everything was made by him, and if everything belongs to him, and if he has provided everything we need for this life and for our eternal life, who are we to have a say in how he divvies up his blessings? We make a mistake when we try to grasp for more. He knows how our story ends. We don't. Whatever he has for us is much much more than we deserve.

Matthew 17 & 18

In our world, scratching our way to the top is expected. But Jesus still frustrates us with his insistence that if we want to be first in the Kingdom, we must be last here on earth. Unless we are as little children we can't enter the kingdom of heaven. That doesn't mean childish; with it's immaturity and selfishness. It means childlike, with its trusting and obedient innocence. Jesus likes to hang out with people who trust him. He consistently hears and answers their prayers. On the other hand, he gets pretty testy with those who take matters in their own hands and try to do his job.

Matthew 15 & 16

There will always be those who are more concerned about forms and traditions than revival. They will be more impressed by externals than heart change. Jesus encountered them over and over. He refused to do stunts that would amaze them. But one day Peter did good. Peter realized who Jesus was and confessed his belief. That confession that Jesus is the Christ is the foundation on which our experience is built today. It was a good moment. Without that confession that Jesus is Lord, we are all without a Savior.