Weekend Sermon -- James 3:13-18 Part 1

 Welcome to this posting of the sermon. I am doing well, and I hope that you are too.

In our study of James this week, we will see that James contrasts the wisdom of this Earth with the wisdom that comes down from above. One way that I like to think about it is the way of the world vs. the way of Jesus.

James tells us that if a person has the wisdom that comes from the Lord, that person will have a life that exhibits good deeds. 

On the other hand, the wisdom of this world manifests itself in jealousy and selfish ambition. The wisdom of this world us filled with bitterness and arrogance. It is based on lies, and those who follow the ways of this world are often very dishonest.

What is the wisdom of this world, and from where does it originate? The Scripture is clear that the way and wisdom of this world consists in anything that denies the teachings of Jesus and the plan and order of God for His creation. James says that one source of wordly wisdom is demonic in nature. 

The forces of evil want people to rebel against the Lord. They seek to attempt to disrupt the will of the Lord by many different means. One way of doing this is to get people to sin. If people are jealous and only think about themselves and their own success, sin and rebellion against the way of Jesus will be the result.

The way of Jesus and His wisdom that comes from above is diametrically opposed to the way and wisdom of this world system. Next week, we will look more closely at the characteristics of the wisdom from above. Amen.

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray that all will go well with my job.

Continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. India really needs our prayer right now. 

Pray for peace in this world. Remember to pray for Chad, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Lebanon and Mali.

Next week, we will continue our study in James. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to publish something midweek. May God bless you all.

Update

The storms were not too bad, and I thank you for your prayers. This has been a very hectic week. I don't have a review this week, but I plan to next week. I will post the sermon sometime tomorrow.

Prayer Request

     Please pray that the storms predicted for my area in the next two days will not be bad. Please pray that there will not be any flooding. Thank you. 

Verses For The Week

 Colossians 3:12 -- "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."

I Peter 5:6 -- "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you."

Luke 14:11 -- "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Psalm 25:9 -- "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His ways."

Matthew 11:29 -- "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Weekend Sermon -- James 3:1-12

     Thanks be to God for the opportunity to post the sermon this week. I hope that all of you are doing well. I am feeling much better, and I thank you for your prayers. 

     For several weeks now, we have been studying what the Lord has to teach us through what James wrote in the epistle the bears his name. We finished up chapter two last week, and we will focus our attention on the first part of chapter three this week. 

     The first verse of chapter 3 provides the believer with a warning. This verse states, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." This is a somber verse. No one should try to be a teacher of the Word of the Lord unless that person has been called to do so by the Lord. I know that I felt the call of the Lord on my life at a young age. It is my responsible as a teacher of the Word to rightly divide the Word of truth. I have to teach what is right. If I mislead anyone and teach what is false or what is just my own opinion, I will have to answer for that at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 

    In this verse, James is not discouraging people from teaching the Word. He is just making sure that those who are called understand what an important position it is that they hold. The Lord wants those who speak in His name to live lives that are an example to others. He wants to make sure that none are led astray. 

     After this first verse, James gives us an extensive discussion on the power of the tongue and how our speech can be used in a destructive way to harm others. I believe that one of the reasons that James prefaced this section with a warning to teachers is due to the fact that many people have been hurt and damaged in their faith over the years due to nasty things said by pastors, evangelists and teachers. 

     This was the case in my life. Hurtful words communicated to me by a couple of pastors and teachers really damaged my faith. They greatly discouraged me in my walk with the Lord and in my desire to serve the Lord. It was only by the grace of God allowing me to find teachers that were helpful and encouraging that I maintained my walk with the Lord and have been in the ministry these past several years. 

     Those who are in a position of authority have the duty to speak words that heal and not words that hurt. We want to speak the truth, but we have to speak the truth in love with gentleness and with respect. If we use hateful and harsh speech, we will turn people away from Jesus. 

     I believe that many people in the world today do not want to have anything to do with the church due to the hateful way that people in the church have spoken to them in the past. This is sad, and I believe that it grieves that heart of Jesus. 

     Now, in a more general sense, all of us who are followers of the Lord Jesus need to control our tongues. The tongue is powerful. It can be used to build up, and it can be used to tear down. 

     I believe that nothing hurts more in life than to be spoken down to, called names or to be verbally abused. Even after many years have gone by, mean things that people said to you will come back and hurt you all over again. One of the mean things that one of my grandparents said to me has come back to hurt me over and over. She told  me that my parents would have been a lot better off if I had never been born. Other Christians ridiculed me because I was born with and continue to have many different health problems. I was so hurt by the mean things that so called Christians and some family members said to me that I probably wouldn't even be here today if the Lord had not brought my friend Toby into my life. The reason that he meant and continues to mean so much to me is due to the fact that he cared about me and loved me for who I was. He didn't care that I was sickly or couldn't walk very fast. He just loved me. 

     All of us, including myself, need to really watch what we say. We don't want to speak negative things that drag others down. I know people whose parents were always down on them telling them that they were bad and would never amount to anything. Those words stuck with those children all their lives, and their lives have been held back. 

     Words make a difference. We have the power to hurt or to heal with our words. We need to speak words of life and encouragement to others. We need to build others up and let them know of the love of Jesus. We need to tells others that are important in our lives that we love them and that we care about them. 

     One of the marks of a believer who is following the Lord closely is that that person will have speech that is in keeping with the example of Jesus Christ. A follower of the Lord does not have speech filled with nastiness, gossip and backbiting. A believer following Jesus closely speaks humbly, lovingly and hopefully to those that he or she encounters. 

     Let us all strive to speak words that heal and not words that hurt. This is a good example of where the Golden Rule comes into play. Jesus told us to do onto others as we would have done unto us. None of us want to be eviscerated by the words of others, so let's not do that to others. As Paul said, let us be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray about the situation with my part-time job. I am still trying to find something more suitable. Also, please pray that I can get my writing going again. 

     Please pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. In my country, cases are increasing. Please get the vaccination if you are able. Let us pray that those who are sick will quickly recover. 

    Pray for those who are hurting. Many are unemployed and facing financial difficulty. Others are facing depression and anxiety and need our prayers. 

     Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Chad, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Syria. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of China and Laos. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in our series on James. On Monday, I will post the verses. I hope to post a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Reviews And Recommendations

     As most who follow this blog know, my favorite author is James Herriot. I was looking forward to the new All Creatures Great and Small series on PBS. I began watching the series, and I reviewed the first couple of episodes here on the blog. After watching more of the series, I have to say that I was very disappointed in the program. The classic series that aired in the 70s and 80s  that starred Christopher Timothy as James Herriot is much better. Robert Hardy had the role of Siegfried Farnon played to perfection in that series. If you get the chance to watch that series, please do so. It is among my favorite television programs of all time. Better yet, read the books. The book that James Herriot's son wrote about his father is also very good. 

     PBS had an interesting series of programs on recently that dealt with the life of Ernest Hemingway. While I am not a big fan of his books, the series by Ken Burns was interesting, and I recommend it. 

     I've been reading a lot more lately. In the coming weeks, I will be providing reviews here on the blog on mystery books, dog books and animal books. I might even review a religious book or two. Thank you for reading the blog. 

Verses For The Week

 II Corinthians 6:10 -- "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything."

Psalm 16:11 -- "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

Weekend Sermon -- James 2:14-26 -- Part 2

      Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am feeling better after my ordeal with the coronavirus vaccine, and I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to post this message. I just wanted to make one thing clear. I do not want to discourage anyone from taking the coronavirus vaccine. The reaction that I experienced is very rare. I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying life. 

     Last week, we focused on the section of James where he discusses faith and works. We focused on the aspect of the passage that deals with having a true possession of faith versus just an empty profession of faith. We saw that true faith always manifests itself in good deeds. We are not born again nor do we receive salvation as a result of doing good deeds. We are saved by grace through faith. It is all the work of the Lord, and it doesn't have anything to do with how good we are. Our good works are a result of and a confirmation of the fact that we are truly redeemed and Jesus is the Lord of our lives. 

     In today's message, I want to change the focus on how we see our passage in James, In verses 15 and 16 James says, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothing and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warm and fed;' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is that?"

     I have been convicted by the Lord in recent days about doing more to fulfill what He wants to be done in the world. It is important to pray for those who have needs in this world. It is important to pray that salvation will come to those who are lost. We can believe that God will do something to help people who are in need, and we can believe that God will send someone to tell others about the saving work of Jesus. However, it is important that we put our faith into action and become part of the solution that we are praying for. It isn't enough to just sit by and pray that somebody else will act. 

     There are many people in my country who have a lot of needs right now. The number of homeless people here in the United States is a travesty is a nation that has so much wealth. I can and do pray that the homeless will find shelter and enough to eat, but I believe that God is calling me to do  more to help those in need. I believe that He is calling all of us who are believers in Jesus to do more to make this world a better place. 

     There are several ways that we can do this. One way is to give to those great organizations that are trying to make a difference. Giving sacrificially goes a long way in allowing homeless ministries to provide food and shelter. Giving helps medical aid and doctors reach those who need healthcare. 

     All of us who believe in Jesus can help those who are hurting by finding those who are in need and providing direct aid. That might mean giving clothes or food to those we know who really could use a helping hand. We can volunteer with organizations that are trying to make a difference in our communities and around the world. 

     Another important way that we can put action behind our faith is to advocate for those policies that will help people. Those who live in democratic countries can vote for those who are committed to helping others and bringing about social justice. We can write to our representatives asking them to vote to help others. We can speak up for justice and for what is right so that the systems that keep people in poverty and hurt might be broken. 

     Now, we must all do more in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been given the Great Commission to go into all of the world with the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness. We need to pray for the salvation of our friends, family and others, but we need to do more than that. We need to tell others about Jesus. We need to share with others what Jesus has done for us and what He can do for them. In this way, people will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. They will tell others, and the world can be revolutionized by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

     We must all work to spread the message of Jesus. We must be His instruments of help and peace in this world. The Bible calls us to be ambassadors for Christ. That means being like Jesus in the world so that others see Jesus in us and give glory to God in Heaven. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Thank you for your prayers regarding my health. I've recovered from my allergic reaction to the vaccine. I am still having some other health issues, so please continue to pray that I will feel better in the coming days. 

     Please pray that I can find another job very soon. The part-time job that I have right now is really not going well. I am doing things that are beyond my physical abilities, and I am afraid that I am going to get hurt. The job is also weighing on me mentally. 

     Please pray that the coronavirus pandemic will end soon. Pray that those who are sick will recover quickly. 

     Pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Myanmar, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Mozambique and Afghanistan. Pray for peace among all people everywhere.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in Jordan and Japan. Pray that many will find that peace that Jesus Christ brings. 

     Next week, we will continue with our study in James. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will try to have a midweek post. May God bless you all.

Thoughts About Vacation

      I don't know about you, but I haven't been on a vacation in a long, long time. With the coronavirus pandemic going on, it has not been possible to really go anywhere or do much. I am hoping that in the near future, things will get back to normal, and I can maybe go on a trip somewhere just to get away and do something different. 

     As I've been thinking about going on a vacation for the past few days, I remember all of the trips that I had the privilege to take with my friend Toby when he was with me. We went a lot of different places together, but the two trips that stand out the most in my mind are the trip we took through the Rocky Mountains and the trip we took through South Dakota. 

     My family went every year out to Cheyenne to visit my grandma. On one trip, we decided to visit some sites in the mountains. We stopped off at Colorado Springs and went up in the Rockies. That is, we went a ways up in the Rockies, because my Dad always got scared in the mountains, so we would turn around and come back down. 

      Colorado Springs is a pretty town right up against the mountains. One of the best times I spent was sitting on the hotel balcony with Toby as we watched the training gliders by the Air Force Academy circle in large loops with the mountains in the background. 

     We also had the chance to go up part way to Rocky Mountain National Park. There was a river along the path of the road. While we were exploring along the river,  Toby jumped in after a trout. I had to go in after him because I was afraid we would be swept away by the current.

    We had a lot of fun in South Dakota. We traveled from one end of the state to the other stopping to see the sites in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Chamberlain and Rapid City. Along the way, we explored the Badlands. Rapid City and the Black Hills are nice places.

     I always wanted to go back up to South Dakota and explore more and take more time to enjoy the area there. Toby and I liked that place the best of anywhere that we traveled. Unfortunately, we never got the chance to get back up there before he passed away. 

     If you want to do something fun with someone you care about, find time to do it before time gets away from you. 

Verses For The Week

 Isaiah 26:3 -- "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Weekend Sermon -- James 2:14-26 Part 1

      It is a pleasure to be able to post the sermon this week. I hope that you are all doing well. I am still in recovery mode from my allergic reaction, so keep me in your prayers. 

     Over the last couple of weeks, we took a short break from our study in the book of James in order to speak about Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. Today, we resume our study in James. I will take this week's sermon and the next to explore what James 2:14-26 has to teach us. 

     I need to start out by stating that this is probably the most controversial passage in the book of James. Some will use this passage to state that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is not Biblical. In the past, one of the Protestant Reformers disliked the book of James because of this portion of the text. If we study what James is trying to say, we will clearly see that James is not contradicting Paul's teaching, and Paul is not contradicting James.

     First of all, James is not saying that we obtain salvation by doing good works. He is making the point quite well that true faith in Jesus manifests itself in action. An example of this is found in Hebrews 11. In this great chapter, many of the important heroes of faith are listed. Some have called this chapter the Hall of Fame of Faith. 

     One thing that you will notice in studying those mentioned in Hebrews 11 is that these people's faith was manifested in action. They didn't just acknowledge the power of God mentally, they believed God and set about doing what God asked them to do. 

     James tells us that mental assent to the reality of the things of God is not enough to bring salvation. Even the devils know the truth. They know all about God and what Jesus did on the cross and in His resurrection. However, they clearly demonstrate in their rebellion that they do not acknowledge the authority of God. 

     Anyone can say that they are a Christian. Just about anyone can go to a church, say the right things and then become a member. That doesn't mean that they have had a real encounter with the Lord. There is a difference between a mere profession of faith and a true possession of faith. 

    Someone who has truly placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will have works in their life that demonstrates that they have been born again and that Jesus is Lord. That person is not saved by works, that person is demonstrating that Jesus is Lord of their life by the way that they live in the world for the Lord Jesus. 

     James provides two examples of what he is trying to teach. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. He believed that God would deliver Isaac even if it meant that Isaac would be raised from the dead. Abraham had to show by what he did that he really believed God. He had to do what God said to demonstrate that he really had faith in God. 

    Rahab is the other example. When the spies came into the city of Jericho, she hid them away. In order to be safe when the city was taken, the spies told her to hang a scarlet cord from her window. She could have said that she believed all day, but if she didn't hang out the scarlet cord, she would not have been safe.  Her action demonstrated that she truly believed what the spies told her. 

     In our world today, there are many people who make the claim to be Christians. However, their beliefs and actions do not line up with what has been revealed by the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not manifesting their faith by their works. 

    No one can do enough good works to earn salvation. Jesus came to save us because we could not and cannot save ourselves. What we do demonstrates that we are truly redeemed by Jesus Christ. We are saved unto good works.  A follower of Jesus should lead a life centered around the teachings and the admonitions of Jesus. 

     Next week, I want to look at this passage with a different angle, and speak about taking action in this world. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that I will get better. I thank you for your prayers. 

     Continue to pray that the coronavirus pandemic will end soon. I heard on the news this morning that Brazil is having a really rough time right now.  Pray that those who are sick will recover. 

     Pray for peace in this world. Syria, Yemen, Mozambique and Libya are in need of our prayers for peace. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of  Iran and Sierra Leone. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, we will continue in our study of James. On Monday I will post the verses. I will try to post something midweek. May God bless you all. 

Prayer Request And Some Information

     As I mentioned before, I went in last week for my second Coronavirus vaccine. Unfortunately, I've had an allergic reaction to the second shot. I have been fairly sick. I am doing some better, but I need your prayers to get through this problem. I am on prednisone to try to counteract the allergic reaction. 

     There is something that I wanted to share with you. If you enjoy learning new things, there is a good resource that I have discovered for taking free courses online. Open University has a resource called Open Learn that provides free courses in a variety of different subjects. I've taken two courses now, and I've learned a lot. 

Verses For The Week

 John 20:21 -- And Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Matthew 28:10 -- "Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Weekend Sermon -- Victory And Hope Through The Resurrection

 Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

     Happy Easter, and welcome to the Weekend Sermon. Today is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

     We have come through the events of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. We saw on Good Friday that Jesus bore our sins in His body as He was on the cross. What Jesus did on Good Friday took care of sin. Our sins were forgiven and washed away. Now, those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

     When Adam and Even sinned in the Garden of Eden, the consequences of sin set in. The consequences of sin are death and hell. Death passed on every person because every person who has ever lived except Jesus has committed sin. Because of sin, everything and everyone dies. Because of sin, the destination of every person is separation from a holy God. However, through His glorious resurrection from the grave, Jesus is the victor over death, hell and the grave. Because Jesus has risen bodily from the grave, death has lost its sting. Those who put their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ can be with Him forever and escape the wrath of God.

      Jesus said in John 11 that He is the resurrection and life. Whoever believes in Him, though he were dead, yet shall He live. Because Jesus rose from the dead, those who are in Christ will live with Him forever in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. 

     The bodily resurrection of Jesus brings both victory and hope. It brings victory over death, hell and the grave, and it brings hope for eternal life and for a glorious reunion one day with those who have gone on before us. 

     Almost all of my friends and close family have passed away. However, as the Bible says, I do not grieve as one who has no hope. This is due to the fact that all of those that have gone on before placed their faith and trust in Jesus. Because of Jesus' glorious resurrection, all of my family and friends who have passed away are with Jesus right now. One day, when I am called home, or if the Lord should return before that happens, I will be reunited with all of those who are in Heaven with Jesus right now. That gives me hope for my future with Jesus and hope for the fact that I will see once again those who I  miss so very much. 

     All of this is possible because of Jesus' resurrection. This is why the resurrection of Jesus is the fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. If Jesus has not been raised, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are of all people the most to be pitied. I have confidence based on the evidence that Jesus really did rise bodily from the grave. 

    I believe that the most important proof of the resurrection is the post resurrection action of the Apostles. They claimed that they saw the risen Christ. Others said that they had just stolen away the body of Jesus and were just making up a story. Just stop and think about this. All of the Apostles died a martyrs death except for John who was exiled to Patmos. Don't you think that one of these guys would have told the truth and avoided his death if the whole resurrection was just a made up story? No. They really did see the risen Christ, and that is why they were all willing to go to their deaths for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

    I believe that Jesus has risen and He is Lord. He is the Savior of the world. He has conquered sin, death and hell. Because He lives, we shall live also. We shall all be together again with Jesus some great and glorious day. 

    One day, the risen Lord will come again in power and great glory. Every eye shall see Him. On that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

    I want to close this message by asking you if the risen Lord reigns in your heart? Have you trusted in Jesus to save you from your sin? Do you believe that He is risen from the dead? Have you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? On this Easter weekend, you can turn from sin and turn to the Savior. I want you to know that Jesus loves you, and He will forgive anyone who is willing to come to Him. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am writing this message on the day that I am getting my second Covid 19 vaccination. Please keep praying that all will be OK. Also, pray that this pandemic will soon be over, and pray that those who are sick will make a full recovery. 

     Please pray for those in the US who have experienced damage from the storms. Pray that they will receive the aid that they need. 

     Remember to pray for peace in this world. Mozambique is having a lot of problems right now. Keep praying for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya. 

     Pray that on this Easter weekend, many will come to know Jesus as Savior. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those living in Singapore and Burkina Faso. 

    This Monday, I will post the verses. I will try to post something midweek. On Friday, I will post the Sermon. We will resume our study on the book of James. May God bless you all. 

Good Friday

 Read: John 19

    Good Friday is the day that Jesus died on the cross. When Jesus first began His public ministry, John the Baptist said as recorded in John 1:29 that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God. He did not commit any sins. He lived a holy and sinless life as our perfect example.

     On the cross, Jesus bore our sins. I Peter 2:24 tells us, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by His wounds we are healed." While on the cross, our sins were imputed to Jesus. He took our sins. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Savior and Lord, He takes away our sins and imputes His righteousness to us. The Bible says it like this in I Corinthians 5:21 which states, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

    In Revelation 5, we have the scene in Heaven where the Lamb of God is declared worthy to be praised by the hosts of Heaven and by every created being in the entire universe. Jesus is worthy of praise because He has given His life for the salvation of the world. And not just the world. The death of Jesus has cosmic proportions. His death redeems the universe from that which sin brought upon it. 

    On this day, I hope that you will remember that Jesus loved you so much that He was willing to suffer and die for you that you might know Him and be redeemed. 

Maundy Thursday And A Prayer Request

     Before I get into what I want to say about Maundy Thursday, I have a brief item that I would like you to pray with me about. Today, I am going in for my second dose of the the Moderna Covid 19 vaccine. Please pray that all goes well and that I don't have any bad side effects. I am nervous about the whole thing. 

Maundy Thursday 

Read: John 13 and Mark 14:22-25

     The night before Jesus went to the cross to die for the sins of the world, there were certain events that took place that teach us some very important things. First of all, on Thursday evening, Jesus washed His disciples feet. This was done as an example so that Jesus could show that the disciples should have the attitude of a servant. They were to seek to serve instead of to be served. They were to love others and give their lives to the service of those who were in need. Jesus was willing to take on the role of a servant even though He was the Lord of all creation. In imitation of the Lord, we are to be humble and serve others so that this world can be a better place and so that others might know of the redeeming love of the Savior. 

     On this night, Jesus also instituted the sacrament of holy communion. When we partake of the elements of the bread and the wine, we are remembering what Jesus did for us. The wine represents Jesus' blood that was shed for us. The bread represents His body that was broken for us. This is the new Passover for the Christian. When the blood of Jesus is applied to our heart washing away our sin, the judgment of God passes over us.

    Finally, on this night, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In agony, He asked that this ordeal might pass from Him. However, Jesus said, "Not my will, but Thine be done." Jesus was willing to suffer for us because of His great love for us.