TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 9:1-13
We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. - Acts 14:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Christians talk about having a “mountain-top” experience, they are alluding to the incident described in today's passage. A mountain-top experience is one that is spiritually exhilarating but temporary. Although we might wish to prolong it, sooner or later we must leave the mountain and go down into the “valley.”

The mountain-top experience of the Transfiguration as witnessed by Peter, James, and John was really more terrifying than exhilarating. It did not produce a spiritual high so much as a sense of fear and momentary confusion. According to Mark, the event took place six days after Jesus had predicted that the disciples would not taste death before seeing the kingdom of God come with power. Many scholars see the Transfiguration as a fulfillment of that promise.

Jesus' transfiguration did not mark the beginning of His exaltation, but served as a glorious prelude to His suffering. Luke's Gospel reveals that the purpose of the appearance of Elijah and Moses was to discuss the Savior's impending death (Luke 9:31). The priority of Jesus' suffering was further underscored by His command not to make the event public until after His death and resurrection had been accomplished.

Peter's suggestion that the disciples build three shelters seems rather ridiculous to us today, but it may refer to a practice that originated with the Feast of Tabernacles. During this yearly celebration God's people built booths or lived in tents to commemorate Israel's wilderness experience. Peter spoke rashly, unnerved by the presence of these heavenly visitors and the transformed Christ.

Peter's uncertainty about how the disciples should respond to such an experience was only momentary. His suggestion was soon corrected by words from God's own mouth that served as both a testimony and a divine command. The moment did not call for the construction of a new tabernacle but for faith and obedience. Jesus' disciples were given a vision of Christ's glory, but it was only a momentary glimpse. Their mission, like that of their Savior, was a path to glory by way of suffering.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The church will face many hardships before our Lord returns in glory. The hymn “For All the Saints” describes how a vision of the glory yet to come can help the church face this daily struggle: And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, / steals on the ear the distant triumph song, / and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. / Alleluia, Alleluia!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 9:30-50
Whoever is not against us is for us. - Mark 9:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
How do you help someone you love face the inevitability of your own death? An aging parent or terminally ill spouse faces this difficult challenge. Jesus also faced it as He moved into the final stage of His ministry. In order to prepare the disciples for His impending death, Jesus passed through Galilee in secret. During the journey He warned His disciples that He would be betrayed, killed, and raised from the dead. This was the second time Jesus had publicly announced to the disciples that He would be crucified.

Although Jesus spoke plainly about His fate, the disciples were unable to understand His meaning. Perhaps they did not want to accept the possibility that the one they looked to as their Messiah would have to suffer. Although they could have asked Christ to clear up the confusion, they kept their reservations to themselves, choosing instead to debate with one another about which of them was the greatest disciple. Before the disciples would be prepared to face Christ's death, it was necessary that they recognize its significance.

Jesus' death on the cross was a sacrifice. It is the only payment that God accepts for sin. His death was also a model. Those who have accepted Christ as their Savior must take Him as their example. Those who see Christ only as a sacrifice may treat His death as if it were “fire insurance,” enjoying its benefits without accepting the responsibility that comes with being a follower of Christ. Those who regard Christ only as an example truly fail to recognize their need for the grace of the cross and its power to transform the believer.

As Jesus prepared His followers for ministry after the cross, He focused on the importance of humility. Those who recognize Christ as Savior and take Him as their example will seek to serve rather than be served. The Christian life is not a beauty contest in which believers compete against one another for a crown. Those who are most prominent in the kingdom are those who are most interested in serving others.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is sometimes hard to rejoice over someone else's success. This is just as true in the church as it is anywhere else. We are often like the disciples, striving for recognition and jealous of those who seem to enjoy more success than we do.

Apply the power of the cross to this tendency by praying for a church other than your own today. Ask God to help it grow and to strengthen its ministries. Pray that the gospel would be clearly proclaimed through its preaching and that the presence of God would be evident in its services.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 10:1-16
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. - Genesis 2:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book Every Second Counts, six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong laments that he did not work as hard on his marriage as he did on his racing career: “All I knew was that in trying to do everything, we'd forgotten to do the most important thing,” he writes. “We forgot to be married. People warn you that marriage is hard work, but you don't listen. You talk about the pretty bridesmaids' dresses, but you don't talk about what happens next; about how difficult it will be to stay or to rebuild.”

LArmstrong is not alone in his sad discovery. Recent surveys indicate that nearly half of all marriages today will end in divorce. In addition to the obvious toll such a trend takes on the partners in the relationship, there is a tremendous cost to the children of couples who seek divorce.

While many Christians are concerned today that recent efforts to legalize gay marriages undermine the family, not enough is said about the threat to the institution of marriage posed by the prevalence of divorce among heterosexuals. Jesus recognized the danger and came to restore marriage and the family to God's original intent through His teaching.

Some of the rabbis of Jesus' day taught that a husband could divorce his wife for any reason. Others believed that immorality was the only ground for divorce. A woman who was sent away by her husband could not challenge the divorce and was often reduced to poverty. According to Jesus, God's intent is that marriage last for a lifetime. A divorce, while valid in the civil court, may not necessarily be valid in the eyes of God.

Jesus showed a similar concern for children. Although Scripture taught that children were a blessing from the Lord, they did not enjoy much status in Jesus' day. It was not uncommon for unwanted children to be abandoned. Christ's disciples showed little interest in the children being brought to Jesus for blessing and even seemed to regard them as something of a nuisance. Jesus indicated that children were welcome in the kingdom. He was as eager to bless them as their parents were to have them blessed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If recent statistics are accurate, it is likely that you either have been touched by divorce or know someone who has. You may be a child of divorced parents or have been divorced yourself. It is even possible that as you examine Jesus' teaching about the family, you realize that you have broken God's pattern. If so, remember that Christ offers forgiveness. Confess your sin and commit yourself to following His principles without reservation. He will not turn you away.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 10:17-31
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. - Ephesians 2:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book Holiness by Grace, Bryan Chapell recounts the old tale of a man who died and met the angel Gabriel at the gates of heaven. Gabriel tells the man that each of the good things he has done will be assigned a certain number of points and that he needs a hundred points to enter heaven.

The man had been faithfully married to the same woman for fifty years, but that was worth only three points. When he said he had attended church all his life, Gabriel told him that it was worth one point. His work with the homeless was worth two points. When the man's points were tallied, he became desperate. “At this rate the only way I will get to heaven is by the grace of God,” he cried. “Come on in,” said Gabriel.

The man in today's Scripture passage was troubled by the same dilemma. As he described his own track record of personal goodness, Jesus informed him that he still fell short of mark. The man was correct to think that righteousness was a prerequisite to obtaining eternal life—but he was wrong to believe that his own good works would make him righteous.

According to Luke's account of this event, the man was a “ruler” (Luke 18:18). The Greek term is broad and may mean that he was an official in the local synagogue or a member of the Sanhedrin. According to Matthew 19:22, he was a “young man.” He was also wealthy. Many of the Jews of Jesus day would have considered the possession of this kind of wealth and prestige at such a young age to be an indicator of personal righteousness. They believed that God rewards good people with material blessing and honor. In fact, Jesus' own disciples seem to have held this view (v. 24).

Although we cannot earn eternal life, there is a cost to following Jesus. Christ calls His disciples to radical trust and complete devotion. Those who have left all to follow Him will find that they have lost nothing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If eternal life is to be gained on the basis of human effort, the very best of us would fall short. What are you relying on as the basis for your hope of eternal life? Church attendance, good morals, generosity, and kindness are all important aspects of living the Christian life—but none of these is sufficient to gain entrance to heaven. If you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ as the one who provides eternal life as a free gift, do so today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 10:32-45
If we endure, we will also reign with him. - 2 Timothy 2:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Alexander the Great captured the Indian king Porus, he asked the defeated monarch how he would like to be treated. Porus replied, “Like a king.” Alexander asked the ruler if he had any additional requests. Porus replied that he did not, “for everything is comprehended in the word ”˜king.' ” Alexander was so impressed with this reply that he restored Porus's lands to him.

James and John shared a similar desire to be treated like kings. But instead of waiting to be asked, they took their request to Christ. Actually, according to Matthew's Gospel, it was the mother of the two sons of Zebedee who made the initial request that the two brothers be granted a seat on Jesus' right and left hands (Matt. 20:20). It was considered an honor to be seated at someone's right hand. To sit on the right and the left suggests an even greater honor. Perhaps the two envisioned a kind of co-regency with Christ. Furthermore, their naïve response to Jesus' probing question suggests that they believed they were prepared for the task.

Although they were warned that the cross must come before the crown, the two sons of Zebedee glibly overestimated their ability to face the storm that was about to engulf the Savior and His disciples. The places at Jesus' right and left hands were not to be their destiny, but they would eventually reign with Christ.

This is true of every believer. In Romans 8:17 the apostle Paul promises: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” There is glory promised to those who follow Jesus, but it is a glory that can only be attained by humility. Those who would share in the glory of Christ must first embrace Him as Lord and Savior and then take up the cross and follow after Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
James and John were not the only ones who struggled with self-centered ambition. The reaction of the other ten disciples indicates that the desire for pre-eminence is a universal temptation.

One way to fight against it is to practice the spiritual discipline of secrecy. Find ways to serve others without drawing attention to yourself. Write an anonymous note of encouragement or quietly perform a task in the church that often goes undone. Pray, give, or serve in secret, trusting that the One who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 11:1-26
See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. - Matthew 21:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his poem about the Triumphal Entry, G. K. Chesterton writes from the point of view of the donkey that carried Christ into Jerusalem. The donkey begins by lamenting his unattractive features—his “monstrous head and sickening cry and ears like errant wings.” The donkey characterizes himself as “the devil's walking parody on all four footed things.” Of all God's creatures he is treated like “the tattered outlaw of the earth,” starved, beaten and ridiculed. But the poem ends on a triumphant note, as the donkey declares: Fools! I also had my hour; / One far fierce hour and sweet; / There was a shout about my ears, / And Palms about my feet!

Chesterton's poem captures the ironic beauty of Christ's entry into Jerusalem. After attempting to keep a low profile, the Triumphal Entry marked Jesus' public declaration to Israel that He had come as their Messiah.

Zechariah 9:9, a prophecy viewed as messianic by Jesus' contemporaries, predicted that Israel's future king would come “righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The action of the crowd in spreading garments and palm branches in the road before Christ reflected the kind of homage usually paid to royalty (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). As the multitude cheered, they quoted Psalm 118:26, one of the Hallel Psalms usually sung during the Feast of Tabernacles and at Passover. The same crowd that hailed Jesus as king on this Sunday would call for His crucifixion a few days later.

Commentator C. E. B. Cranfield notes that Jesus intended to fulfill Zechariah's prophecy, “but to do so in circumstances so paradoxical as to make the meaning of his action hidden. It was a veiled assertion of his Messiahship.” Our Lord did not enter Jerusalem like a conquering king but as a lowly servant. He did not ride on a war horse but on a borrowed donkey. His royal procession was not made up of lords and nobles but of fishermen, publicans, and sinners. He did not come to claim a crown of gold and a royal throne but a crown of thorns and a cross.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The hymn “All Glory, Laud and Honor” by Theodulph of Orleans and translated by John Neal celebrates Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and is usually sung only on Palm Sunday. It describes Jesus as the redeemer king who is worthy of our praise. Sing or read the words to this great hymn of worship as a way of acknowledging Christ's kingship over your life. How can you acknowledge the authority of Christ in the home and at work today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 12:28-44
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. - John 17:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to public opinion polls, car salesmen, television and radio personalities, and politicians all rank in the top ten least trusted professions. Certainly not everyone in these professions is dishonest—but the nature of the job means that it is very tempting not to tell the truth. In fact, being honest might cost you a sale, a sponsor, a viewer, or a vote.

Those who tell the truth in any profession or area of life may face negative consequences. That was especially true in Jesus' life and ministry. The religious leaders of Christ's day frequently did not appreciate what He had to say about their attitudes and practices.

Mark 11:27-12:44 describes a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious authorities of His day. The chief priests, the teachers of the law, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians are all mentioned. In other words, Jesus found Himself in conflict with every major religious group of His day. Many of these groups—like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians—exercised political as well as religious influence. This did not deter Jesus from speaking out against them. He was determined to speak the truth no matter what the consequences.

The Pharisees were religious legalists who emphasized scrupulous adherence to the traditions of the rabbis and were widely admired by the populace. The Sadducees who were smaller in number and did not enjoy such popular support, but they had more political influence than the Pharisees. The Sadducees differed theologically from the Pharisees and rejected both the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead and the oral tradition of the rabbis. They only accepted the Law of Moses as Scripture. The Herodians supported the kingly dynasty of Herod. Although neither a religious group nor a political party, they were keenly interested in the political implications of Jesus' teaching.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It can be hard to take a stand for the truth when dealing with people of influence. We may be tempted to remain silent because we will be stereotyped by speaking out or will be regarded as unpopular by others. We may be nervous about the repercussions, especially if the truth we state contradicts the views of those who exercise authority over us. Don't let the fear of rejection keep you from speaking the truth in love. No matter what the consequences, it is worth it to follow the example of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 13:1-35
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.� Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. - Revelation 22:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Evangelist Billy Sunday once told the story of an assistant who had been sent by D. L. Moody into a dangerous part of the city of Chicago to try to preach the gospel to a group of social anarchists. It was an unlikely audience. “Do the best you can,” Moody advised the man, “and some night I'll come down and help you.” The man later told Billy Sunday that Moody's promise had been an incentive to do his very best. “He didn't know when Mr. Moody would come,” Sunday recounted, “so he looked for him every night, and the harder time he had, the harder he hoped and looked.”

This is the same incentive given to Christ's followers as they approach the end of the age. Jesus warned His disciples that as the end of the age draws near, the difficulties facing the church will increase. False teaching, natural disasters, and wars will all mark what Jesus refers to as “the beginning of birth pains.” This metaphor implies that such troubles will only increase as the day of Christ's return draws near.

According to Jesus, all of this was to be foreshadowed by the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Roman general Titus attacked Jerusalem in an effort to subdue a revolt. During the campaign against Jerusalem soldiers set fire to the temple chambers and the sanctuary. The entire temple area was soon ablaze. This tragedy prefigured even greater destruction to come shortly before Christ's return. At that time the “abomination that causes desolation,” an event predicted in the book of Daniel, will appear on the scene and mark the beginning of the end (v. 14; see Dan. 9:27; 11:1; 12:11).

Although there has been much disagreement among believers about the exact timing of the events described in today's passage, Jesus' ultimate message is very clear. Since no one knows the exact day and time when He will return, those of us who belong to Christ should live with a sense of daily expectation. We must not be discouraged by the trials we face but should make every effort to proclaim the gospel while there is still time.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Make a list of all the events that Jesus mentions in today's passage. Do you see any of them taking place today? While Jesus' teaching about the things that will take place at the end of the age was never intended to incite idle speculation about the end times, a study of biblical prophecy can strengthen your faith and give you a greater sense of confidence in God's word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:1-52
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. - 1 Peter 2:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
George MacDonald, Scottish clergyman and author of the children's classic At the Back of the North Wind, wrote, “The Son of God suffered unto death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like his.” MacDonald's statement suggests that Christ's suffering gives meaning to the suffering of the believer. But this also raises a related question. What gave meaning to Christ's suffering? How was He able to approach the pain of the cross and all that surrounded it with such calm assurance?

The answer is found in Jesus' knowledge of the Father's plan. Even though His disciples had difficulty grasping the inevitability and significance of Christ's suffering, our Lord did not shrink back from the pain that was soon to come. He understood that it was part of His destiny. His acceptance was not the result of fatalism. Rather, it came from His knowledge and faith that His Heavenly Father would use that suffering to purchase our redemption.

Jesus did not enjoy suffering. He looked forward to all that His suffering would accomplish but not to the actual suffering itself. On the night of His betrayal and arrest our Lord agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane to such an extent that He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (v. 34). When the Greek text describes Jesus' state of mind, it uses terms that speak of alarm and great distress. At that time He looked for comfort from His disciples and through prayer. He even prayed and asked that, if at all possible, He be spared suffering. The secret to His calm acceptance of His fate is found in the qualifying phrase of Christ's prayer: “Not what I will, but what you will” (v. 36).

The Savior's deference to the Father's will reflected more than a submissive attitude. It was grounded in the confidence that His suffering was part of a divine plan. It was not suffering merely for the sake of suffering. Nor was it suffering in vain. Christ suffered for a purpose: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Christ's suffering was both an offering and an example. Unlike Him, our suffering does not purge sin. But like Christ's, our suffering does have purpose. Those who suffer for the sake of Christ do so as part of God's larger plan. Like Him, we are to entrust ourselves to the one who judges justly (cf. 1 Peter 2:23).

Like Him too, we can look for comfort in prayer and the companionship of others who love God. Think of someone you know who is currently going through a time of suffering. Perhaps a brief note, phone call, or visit would be a source of encouragement today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:53-71
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. - Matthew 10:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Jack's friends learned that he was scheduled to go to court for a minor traffic accident, they urged him to plead “not guilty” before the judge. “The driver of the other car probably won't show up,” they told him. “Why pay a fine when you don't have to?” Jack explained that his conscience wouldn't let him do as they suggested. “I'm guilty,” he said. “The accident was my fault. I can't tell a lie and say otherwise.”

Jesus faced an even greater consequence for telling the truth—a death sentence. Jesus was brought before a hastily convened session of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council in Jerusalem. Although they possessed the authority to have Jesus whipped, the Roman government did not grant the Sanhedrin the right to exercise capital punishment on their own. One purpose for this late-night trial was to gather the kind of evidence that could be presented to the Roman governor to make a case for sentencing Jesus to death.

At first their efforts appeared to be unfruitful when those who were brought forward to testify against Jesus failed to agree. The Law of Moses required the agreement of at least two witnesses before a man could be put to death (see Deut. 17:6). Jesus remained silent during their testimony until the High Priest asked Him directly whether He was the Christ. Jesus not only said yes, He did so in a way that underscored His claim to be equal with God the Father (v. 62). The result was swift. In a dramatic public display of disapproval, the High Priest announced that no further evidence was necessary. Jesus was condemned simply because He told the truth about Himself.

Peter's behavior during Christ's trial stands in sharp contrast. Facing the same threat, he caved to the pressure and emphatically claimed that he did not know Jesus. He had been called by Christ to be a disciple and a witness. Instead of owning up to this calling, Peter's fear of the possible consequences led him to disown His Savior.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you think of a time when you were tempted to hide your allegiance to Jesus Christ from someone? Thankfully, He forgives us when we acknowledge our failures in these areas, and the Holy Spirit can give us boldness and enthusiasm for sharing our Savior.

Think about some specific ways that you can stake your identity with Christ. It may be through words you say, or kind actions, or the things that surround your office and home. With what Christ has done for us, let's proudly claim His name!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 15:1-15
Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. - Acts 13:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate provided another opportunity for Him to talk His way out of trouble. Pilate was a mid-level Roman official who had been appointed prefect of Judea. He had been picked for this responsibility by Tiberius the Roman Emperor. His religious insensitivity and ruthless behavior toward the Jews were well-known.

According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Pilate had offended the Jews when he allowed his troops to carry a Roman standard emblazoned with an idolatrous image. He had also hung golden shields inscribed with the names of pagan deities in the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus mentioned an instance when Pilate murdered several Galileans while they offered sacrifices (Luke 13:1).

In view of this, it seems likely that Pilate's efforts to set Jesus free were motivated more by his dislike for the Sanhedrin than by any desire for genuine justice. Although Pilate had been granted nearly absolute power, the current climate of instability and his own troubled history with the Jews made him reluctant to act in Jesus' case without popular support.

Jesus' response to Pilate's questioning did not make it any easier. Since Pilate would not have considered blasphemy sufficient grounds for capital punishment, the religious leaders had accused Jesus of claiming to be “king of the Jews,” an allegation that the Roman government considered treasonous (v. 2). When Pilate asked directly whether this claim was true, Jesus gave an answer that might have been interpreted either way. The more recent translations eliminate the ambiguity implied in the original language. According to the Greek text, Jesus declared, “You have said.”

Why didn't Jesus simply say “yes?” The fact that He did not deny the claim was itself a form of assent. Pilate had given Him an opportunity to renounce their accusation and go free, but Jesus refused to compromise the truth in order to save Himself from suffering. Christ's answer seems designed to force Pilate to draw his own conclusions about Jesus. Instead, the Roman prelate proved to be more interested in satisfying the crowd than in discovering and acting upon the truth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although Jesus had been brought to him as a prisoner, it was really Pilate who was on trial. He knew that Jesus was innocent of any crime and that the religious leaders were motivated by envy. He may even have sensed that Jesus was the Son of God. In the end, Pilate asked the right question: “What shall I do with Jesus?” Unfortunately, he asked it of the wrong people. He should have answered it for himself, rather than letting the will of the crowd dictate his response.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 15:16-47
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. - Hebrews 13:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
The popularity of Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ astounded the film industry. Many believed that there would be little interest in a movie where the characters spoke only Latin and Aramaic with English subtitles. Some predicted that the project would ruin Gibson's career. Once the film was finally released, the movie's graphic violence became the focus of even more controversy. Some claimed that the film's brutality provided a necessary antidote to the sanitized image most believers have of Christ's suffering. Many who saw The Passion of the Christ said that the film helped them to finally appreciate the full extent of all that Jesus experienced while on the cross.

Yet even Gibson's graphic portrayal could not do justice to the full extent of suffering that Christ experienced on the cross. Certainly, He faced the brutality of Roman crucifixion. This practice was as much a means of torture as it was a form of execution. The Romans reserved crucifixion for slaves and those who were considered to be the lowest criminals. Its victims were suspended by their hands on a cross beam that had been fastened to a stake that was driven into the ground. In most cases the stake was about the height of a man.

The worst suffering that Christ endured was not the physical torment of the cross but the pain of separation from His Heavenly Father. While hanging on the cross, Jesus endured the wrath of God on behalf of sinners. As the apostle Paul explains, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

In other words, during the crucifixion Jesus had to endure a double indignity. Not only did He experience the pain of separation from His Heavenly Father, He also endured the shame of bearing our sins. The religious leaders believed that Jesus was a heretic. The Romans executed Him as though He were a rebel. God the Father knew that He was none of these. Jesus was a sacrifice for sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although it is not as common in our evangelical context, Christians have long had a tradition of meditating on the suffering of Christ. This is not intended to promote a morbid fascination with the physical details of Christ's death, but to help us appreciate the significance of the cross.

One way to do this is through music. Try using the classic hymn by Isaac Watts, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Those who prefer contemporary worship music may wish to use Chris Tomlin's updated version, “The Wonderful Cross.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 16:1-19
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. - Matthew 28:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mark's Gospel concludes with a textual difficulty. Most scholars believe that verses 9 through 19 were not penned by Mark because they do not appear in some of the oldest Greek manuscripts. Various explanations have been given for their addition. Some have suggested that they were compiled by someone else after Mark's death prohibited him from finishing the Gospel. They believe these verses were added by those who thought it unlikely that Mark would end his Gospel by saying that the women were afraid. Others believe verses 9 through 19 reflect an independent tradition, perhaps used for catechetical purposes, that someone else later attached to Mark's Gospel.

The events described in the last eighteen verses are consistent with material found elsewhere in Scripture. Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene is described by John. Jesus' appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is recounted by Luke. Matthew records the Great Commission, and in the book of Acts Luke recounts instances of speaking in tongues, handling snakes, laying on of hands, and Christ's ascension. While these verses may not have been originally penned by Mark, there is nothing unorthodox about what they include.

Even without the last eighteen verses, Mark's Gospel ends on a note of victory and promise. Whatever Mark's original ending may have been, it is clear that the end of verse eight is not the end of the story. After Jesus' suffering and death was vindicated by resurrection, Jesus sent word to His disciples by way of an angel who appeared to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James.

The angel announced that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb because He had risen from the grave. They were commanded to bring this good news to the other disciples and to tell them that Jesus had already gone before them into Galilee. “There you will see him,” the angel promised, “just as he told you” (v. 7). Jesus had fulfilled His purpose on earth, God had raised Him from the dead, and now He provides our lives with purpose and meaning.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We usually think of the resurrection only at Easter. Yet it is the foundation for the new life that we experience in Christ. The hope of every believer is that those who have been united with Christ in His death have also been united with Him in resurrection. It is this resurrection power that enables us to have victory over sin.

As you continue in your journey with Christ, remember that He has won the victory over death and sin for us. And rejoice that we can become more like Him through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 13:1-14:38
And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. - Numbers 14:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Andrew Jackson knew what it took to face military and political battles. He recognized the power of a leader's convictions when he said, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Today's reading would amend that quote slightly to say, “One man with God makes a majority.”

The people of Israel should have taken the land of Canaan shortly after the spies returned in today's reading, but the entire nation was swayed by the opinions of ten men.

All the spies confirmed the good news, that the land was indeed flowing with milk and honey (13:27). They even showed the impressive fruit that the Promised Land yielded. The bad news: the ten cowardly spies sowed seeds of fear among the people by focusing on the size and strength of the land's inhabitants.

Joshua and Caleb were alone in their desire to enter the land, and indeed it was Caleb who was the most outspoken (13:30; 14:24). The people ignored these men of courage and instead cast their votes with the men of grasshopper-sized faith. The only men they were willing to attack were Joshua and Caleb.

In the book of Joshua, strength and courage were characteristics God demanded of Joshua. The rest of today's reading helps us see why. Instead of enjoying the fruit of God's promises, the Israelites' weakness and fear brought about God's judgment, although it was tempered by His gracious answer to Moses' plea for mercy (14:19). As a result, Joshua and Caleb were the only spies who lived to see another day (14:37). The vote among the spies quickly became a unanimous 2-0 in favor of obeying God.

Chapter 13 holds a footnote that is important to God's plan for Israel and the rest of the world. Verse 16 notes that Moses actually chose the name Joshua for this hero of faith; it means: “God brings salvation.” God used Joshua to bring salvation to the people of Israel by delivering them into the land He promised. That earthly salvation symbolizes the eternal salvation that God brings to us through the One who bore the same name—Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Israelites had seen the glory of God and witnessed miracle after miracle. But when they got a secondhand account about some big, bad men, they regretted that God had brought them out of the unfriendly confines of Egypt.

If you've put your faith in Christ, you've witnessed the greatest miracle of all through the Holy Spirit—eternal communion with our glorious God! Don't lose sight of that when the problems of this world threaten to discourage you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 1:1-9
Be strong and courageous. - Joshua 1:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
You don't have to read very far into Joshua before an obvious theme emerges. “Be strong and courageous” is repeated over and over, and that repetition indicates just how important it was for the new leader of Israel to possess and strongly portray those characteristics. C. S. Lewis gives us some insight as to why courage would be so vital to the man leading God's people when he writes, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

More than anything else, God stressed strength and courage as the predominant character traits that would define Joshua's purpose, because without courage, Joshua's other virtues might have dissolved in the face of the many challenges he faced. God paired these character traits with a clear mission for Joshua.

In the opening verses of this book, God clearly communicated the task, characteristics, and guidelines He had in mind for Joshua. Verses 1-5 delineate precisely the boundaries of the land God would give Israel, and verse 6 makes it clear that Joshua's main task was to lead them to inherit that land.

And God would not leave Joshua in the dark as to how he would accomplish that task. After repeating the encouragement Joshua first received from Moses in Deuteronomy (31:23), God lays down the guidelines for success: meditate on the Law, obey it, and you'll succeed (v. .

The foundation for Joshua's strength and courage came in the truth communicated in verse 9. God was with Joshua, and we must not overlook that. Joshua's courage was not described as intrinsic in his makeup. God didn't say, “You are strong and courageous,” although Joshua had certainly shown those traits in the past. God directed him to be strong and encouraged because no matter what weakness Joshua had, no matter how many people he had to lead, and no matter how big and fearsome the enemy might be, the Lord was with Joshua, and that was all that mattered.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Israel easily could have crumbled in fear of the imposing enemy or turned away to foreign gods, but Joshua's strength and courage led Israel through a period of faith and obedience. In the unique situation where God has placed you, what character traits are most vital? Maybe you need to be compassionate and gracious or loving and generous. No matter what your personality, God can give you the character you need for the task He has given you. And He will be with you!