The House You're Building

        Orient  John 19:17-42 This installment of our series through John covers a sacred set of text: The Crucifixion.  This passage contains many fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah from multiple books from the old testament. Nicodemus, whom Jesus had spoken to in chapter 3, returns to assist in the burial of the body.    Introduction Not much needs to said in preparation for today’s meditative reading.  To Christians all over the world, the sacrificial act of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and salvation.  Without His triumphant act, we will still be lost in sin.  Our response to the atoning work of Jesus is the critical question all must answer: will I accept what He did for me? It is God’s desire that all will come to repentance [1]  when they behold His willingness to suffer in our place.  He makes this clear as even in His death, the deity of Jesus is was displayed in plain sight....

        Orient The prologue concluded, John begins a new section which we will be in for the first half of the book, proving who Jesus is through signs and testimony.  In this section, he introduces John the Baptist (different than the John who wrote this book).  We see 2 main ideas emerge: first ,where John is identified as the forerunner to herald the Christ and secondly, where he gives his testimony to who Christ is.     Introduction Often when meeting people for the first time, a safe question to ask is “what do you do?” as if somehow their job defines a crucial aspect of who they are as a person.  In the passage we are about to read, a major character in the story of Jesus is introduced-John the Baptist.  Yet those sent to learn more about John did not come in a curious and friendly manner.  Instead, they were sent to find out if he might be the Messiah.  In the very beginning of our pass...