Eyes on Jesus: Worldly Eyes

In the fifth week of Lent, we look through the “Worldly Eyes” of Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and the Roman soldiers. Pilate can only view matters in a worldly, pragmatic way, wishing to placate the worldly Jewish leaders and crowd, so he consents to handing Jesus over for crucifixion. The soldiers see the opposite of a worldly king, but their ironic hailing of Him as “King of the Jews” proclaims who He really is. The world looks for power and glory; God’s way is suffering and the cross.

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Eyes on Jesus: Denying Eyes

In the third week of Lent, we stare into the “Denying Eyes” of Peter and the other apostles. They could not see how they could ever fall away from Jesus, but after Jesus is betrayed by Judas, ten of them flee, and Peter—when he is spotted by a servant girl and sees that his own neck is on the line—sees fit to deny Jesus, which leads to his own eyes weeping in remorse. We sinners likewise deny our Lord in many ways, but Jesus denied Himself to take up the cross for our salvation.

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More Than Money: Stewardship in Scripture | John 3:16

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
This is perhaps the most well-known and well-beloved verse in the New Testament – and for good reason. This simple Gospel message is the foundation for our whole life, including our new life in Christ. This new life is characterized by thankfulness and devotion to our Father, who has provided for us so lavishly in Christ.

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Eyes on Jesus: Sleepy Eyes

“Sleepy Eyes” is the theme for the second week of Lent. In Gethsemane, Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James, and John cannot keep their eyes open to watch and pray with Jesus for even an hour, while Jesus comes to see that His Father’s will is that He drink the cup of God’s wrath when He comes to the “hour” of His suffering.

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More Than Money: Stewardship in Scripture | Matthew 4:7

Matthew 4:7

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Jesus defeats Satan in our place – not by using His power as God but by His perfect obedience in His perfect humanity. Jesus defeats Satan – not by miracles but by quoting the Scriptures and living according to it. This should cause us great joy for two reasons. First, because we see Jesus win the victory for us. Second, because here Jesus shows us how to stand in that victory – on the Word of God alone.

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Eyes on Jesus: Betraying Eyes

During this message on the First Sunday of Lent, we will look through Judas’s “Betraying Eyes” and learn why he did this awful deed. Yet the behind-the-scenes-reality is that Jesus was “handed over” (another way of translating the verb for “betray”) by God the Father Himself, so that Jesus could die for the sin of the world.

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More Than Money: Stewardship in Scripture | Matthew 17:8

Matthew 17:8

“And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Jesus is enough. Moses and Elijah point to Jesus and are happy to fade into the background. With our eyes focused on Him – and Him alone – the rest of our lives come into focus. He is primary; all else is secondary. When that order is right in our lives, things truly fall into place.

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