No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”John 3:14-15Full Readings: Numbers 21:4–9, John 3:1–15Heaven. Paradise. Eternal life. For so many of us in the Northern Suburbs of Wollongong or in Australia, what happ...  Read More

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.After he has suffered,    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,    and he will bear their iniquities.Therefore...  Read More

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”Matthew 27:38-40Full Readings: Isaiah 53:7–9, Matthew 27:32–44We’ve spoken a bunch about Jesus’ humility and I don...  Read More

Who has believed our message    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,    and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.He was despised and rejected by mankind,    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.Like one from whom people hide their faces    ...  Read More

See, my servant will act wisely;    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.Just as there were many who were appalled at him—    his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being    and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations,    and kings will shut their mouths because of him.For what they were not told, they will see,    and what they have ...  Read More

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish?You who fear the Lord, praise him!    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!For he has not despised or scorned    the suffering of the afflicted one;he has not hidden his face from him    but has listened to his cry for help.Posterity wi...  Read More

When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my...  Read More

Who among you fears the Lord    and obeys the word of his servant?Let the one who walks in the dark,    who has no light,trust in the name of the Lord    and rely on their God. But now, all you who light fires    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,go, walk in the light of your fires    and of the torches you have set ablaze.This is what you shall receive from my hand:    You will lie down...  Read More

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,    the one I love, in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him,    and he will...  Read More

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”Genesis 22:2Full Readings: Genesis 22:1–14, Matthew 3:13–17As a Dad, I find it unthinkable that I would ever do something so horrendous as sacrifice my child. It sends shivers down my spine. Can you imagine Abraham’s predicament? T...  Read More

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.Let Israel say:    “His love endures forever.”Let the house of Aaron say:    “His love endures forever.”Let those who fear the Lord say:    “His love endures forever.”The stone the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,    and it is marvelous in our eyes.The Lord has done it this very day;    let...  Read More

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:6-8Full Readings: Psalm 62, Romans 5:6–8I want you to imagine something with me. Picture...  Read More