Jesus’ prophecy during His trial with Caiaphas took place when He was put under oath and with that, broke His silence. Matthew 26:62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high …
Jesus’ silence reminds us that being quiet at times is significant and the opposite of the world. Our world is filled with noise, often distracting us from what is important in life. People usually speak their minds in critical situations without much thought of the impact of their words, only to regret it later. I …
Gaslighting the public is nothing new. The Sanhedrin, the ruling council during the time of Jesus, did it. Gaslighting is the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage. The term comes from the title of a 1938 play involving a man attempting to make his wife believe she is going …
The trial of Jesus in Matthew 26:57-68 demonstrates illegal expediency. We already know that the Jewish council wanted to rid themselves of the “Jesus problem.” Thus, they weren’t interested in a fair trial but one that quickly disposed of Jesus. They wanted to be rid of Jesus before the Passover crowds became aware of what …
The story of Jesus’s Jewish trial demonstrates the need for power blinds. The High Priest’s family managed the “Temple business.” The high priest was to serve until death according to Old Testament law. However, the Romans ensured the high priest would work for them by appointing the office. Caiaphas was the high priest at the …
Satan is behind the spiritual battle and is our enemy. The Scriptures tell us there are two forces in the world: evil and good. God’s word also tells us that these forces are not equal and satan only continues to exist because God is using him to carry out His plan. Why did God create …
Failure can be a teacher as it humbles us and leads to a more teachable spirit. Reflecting on my life, I know that some of my most significant failures, both on the job and spiritually, have led me to become a different person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a …
Jesus questioned his captors and then made an unusual comment. Luke 22:53 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.[1] Jesus knew that satan had been waiting for this time. The evil one was behind the plot to …
Are you fighting a spiritual battle and don’t realize you are in one? If you are, this is not uncommon because our enemy is deceptive. Jesus gathered His disciples to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane to prepare for a spiritual battle. He knew he would have to suffer and die for the sins of …
The kiss that Judas betrayed Jesus with was not only an empty gesture but the worst kind of hypocrisy and treachery. It was tradition for disciples to greet their teachers with a respectful kiss. Judas used this sign of friendship to identify Jesus for the soldiers. Luke 22: 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray …