In the Beginning
Memorial of Jesus’ Death The Memorial of our Lord’s death is one of two ceremonies Jesus requested of his followers, the other being baptism.Each year, as we consider the special trials and testing Jesus endured during the last week of his life, it should help us to rededicate ourselves to his service and to renew our commitment to follow in his footsteps. “The Great Deliverance” reflects on the initiation of the Passover with the children of Israel in Egypt. That generation did […]
The Great Deliverance
Passover and Memorial “And this day shall be a remembrance for you, and you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD through your generations, an everlasting statute you shall celebrate it” (Exodus 12:14, Robert Alter Translation). by Jon Bivol The time had come. The cry of God’s children reached His ears and it was time for a change. It was time for the nation of Israel to be delivered from Egypt’sbondage, slavery, and oppression. This became a reality when God […]
Simon the Cyrene
Cross-Bearing “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross” (Matthew 27:32). by David Hrechuk This small detail of our Lord’s crucifixion experience — the bearing of Jesus’ cross by Simon the Cyrene — leads to the question, “Why was this event recorded in three of the Gospels?” Here we suggest several lessons that come from meditating on this event. All writers tend to include or exclude facts surrounding their […]