When our faith is tested, it can be a confusing time. Why would God test us? God, of course, knows all, but we have blind spots. We won’t know where we are spiritually unless God tests us. God knows each of us and designs the tests in a way that will help us grow. Abraham …
Giving into evil began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of the tree of good and evil and persists to this day. When we give in to evil, we bow to our old sinful nature and possible pressures around us. Pontius Pilate was the Governor of Judea when …
Opening a door to be cursed is something we can do with our words and actions, not realizing the damage we have just done to ourselves and possibly others. A person who opens a door in a burning building can accidentally add oxygen to the fire, creating an explosion, and we can do this in …
Struggling to do what is right is a dilemma we all face at different times. A child can learn at a young age the importance of admitting they did something they should not have. Although a child’s misdeeds may be minor, the lesson of doing what is right can become a lifelong lesson and pattern …
The Jewish leadership made false claims against Jesus as they brought Him before the Roman governor, Pilate. The leadership had made a show of their trial of Jesus. They were determined to find Jesus guilty of something before the trial even started. They had to depend on false witnesses to trump up some charge against …
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 …
Understanding Temple politics can help us gain insight into what was happening when Peter and John were arrested. Acts 4: 1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John …