​Today, one of my friends asked if I have favorite scriptures. The truth is, I have several favorite scriptures. John 3:16, Hebrews 11:1, and 1 Corinthians 13:13. But, if I had to pick one, it would be 1 Corinthians 13:13 because I feel it encompasses the concept of everything I believe about life with Jesus.

John 3:16 (NKJV) 

​John 3:16 is a verse that summarizes everything we need to know about God. Concisely and stated, God loved the world so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that our sins could be forgiven.

The world had become separated and rebellious against God. Sin was rampant. And, you see, God could not look upon sin, so something had to be done. A sacrifice of atonement had to be made.

When we sacrifice something, it should be precious. What good is a sacrifice that we don’t care about? Is it a sacrifice if we are willing to throw it away anyway? No, a sacrifice is something valuable to us, and the thought of giving it up makes it a sacrifice.

God loved His Son like a father loves a child. And God loves us like a father loves a child. The sacrifice of God’s only child is a sacrifice like no other. And, He made that sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven, we could have a way to build a relationship with Him, and we could be invited into the Kingdom of Heaven to enjoy a glorious life forever in the presence of God, our Creator. 

There is no greater love than the love our Father has for us. His sacrifice is evidence of that.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)  

​We know there is a Creator, God. We know God saved us through His Son, Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. And we know that Christ is coming back for us.

We know God loves us merely by all He has done for us. We have faith in God’s promises. Our Father has never and never will lie to us. Hope is living this life without a doubt, but with the expectation of Jesus returning to take us home to the Father’s Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)  

Love is the greatest gift of all time. It is a gift that can be given and received simultaneously. It is out of love that we have been saved. Out of love, we have been given an opportunity to have eternal life in Heaven. And, for that, we are asked to do nothing except to believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Jesus Christ is the epitome of love. His sacrifice says it all. We live life with faith and hope of His return. As He loves us, He asks us to love others. Bestow upon others the kind of love He has bestowed upon us.

​Do you have favorite scriptures?

​Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-jacket-sitting-beside-woman-in-blue-dress-shirt-6860466/

Copyright Marlene C Bertrand April 1, 2023

He has risen!

​In my blog post about Good Friday, I spoke about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died on a cross so that our sins could be forgiven. But, there is more to this true story. Jesus rose again on the following Sunday and we call this day Resurrection Sunday. Some people also call this day Easter and reference the Easter bunny and other such pagan rituals that should be discussed separate from this blog post.

In any event, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a critical part of the story about how Jesus died for our sins. His death was important because his death was the living sacrifice that was needed in order for our sins to be reconciled. However, Jesus’ resurrection, following his death is critical because as the story goes, Jesus made many promises that his death would not be the end. He promised he would come back to life.

Matthew 20:17-19
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!

Mark 8:31
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

Matthew 28
Matthew 28 tells the story of how on the third day after His death (Sunday), an angel from heaven came down from heaven and opened the tomb. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb, they found it empty. The angel told them that Jesus had risen, just as He said he would.

They went and saw the place where Jesus laid and were happily amazed. So they hurried away to go tell Jesus' disciples. And then suddenly Jesus, himself met with them and said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Resurrection Sunday… He Rose!
Because Jesus came back to life as he promised, we can believe this and all of the promises he made to us. Jesus’ resurrection changed many doubters into believers. By raising Jesus, God showed the world that they would ultimately answer to Him for all sins.

Jesus kept his promise then and he will keep his promise now.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Today's Video: Amazing Song About the Resurrection!

​Death is a dark and gloomy thought, yet every year on the day we lovingly call Good Friday, Christians celebrate the death of Jesus Christ.

As sad as this day was, it was the most important day in history for people who were filled with sin. On what would ordinarily be a gloomy day by human standards, this was a day our sins were washed away with one single act – the sacrifice of the living Jesus Christ. His life for our sins was an exchange that made a way for sinful people to be forgiven.

John 3:15
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Why was Jesus chosen to be a sacrifice for our sins?
Plain and simple, God cannot look upon sin and He could not look upon people who sin. Back in the days before Christ’s death, whenever we sinned, in order to be forgiven, we had to offer up to God a living sacrifice – a life that was unblemished – a life that was clean and pure. As God cannot look upon sin, Jesus, who was sinless was the only life on earth pure enough to be offered up as a sacrifice to God. His death reconciled our sins.

Today, we are not required to offer a life for a sacrifice. Because, after His death on Good Friday, when Jesus rose again on Easter Sunday, the Lord Jesus Christ became the way in which we could be forgiven of our sins. Today, we simply ask the Lord for forgiveness, and when we are truly repentant, our sins are forgiven. It is as simple as that.

Today’s Video is About a Story of True Love
The story of why Jesus died for us is a story of love, for Jesus loved us so much that he gave His life for us. He suffered for us so that we may have a way to a true and meaningful life.
Today’s video is about the suffering of Jesus Christ as He traveled to Calvary where He died on a cross for us. He did this because He loved us so much.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Video Credits:
Title: Via Dolorosa
Composed by: Niles Borop and Billy Sprague
Published by: Meadow Green Music and Word Music, 2018

Jesus died on a cross for our sins.

Bible Verses About Good Friday
It is my hope that the following Bible verses will help you delve deeper into the true meaning of Good Friday as it relates to sin, sacrifice, and forgiveness of sin.

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
• 1 John 1:9-10
• Romans 6:5-7
• Romans 3:25-26