Good Friday. I had a nice chat at the YMCA on Wednesday with a young man about WHEN Jesus was actually crucified. He was surprised to learn that Jesus may have died on a Wednesday afternoon [at the very time we were chatting], and not on a Friday according to tradition. Here are some of the things that I shared with him.
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“Good” Wednesday?
Good Friday. I had a nice chat at the YMCA on Wednesday with a young man about WHEN Jesus was actually crucified. He was surprised to learn that Jesus may have died on a Wednesday afternoon [at the very time we were chatting], and not on a Friday according to tradition. Here are some of the things that I shared with him.
One of the great challenges of marriage is to become “one flesh” as God promises we can.
The Bible speaks of “children’s children” or grandchildren. What do grandparents have to do with their grandchildren’s lives and godly behavior? A great deal. God’s mercy lasts forever and our grandchildren can be righteous. Keeping God’s Word ourselves and then raising our own children so they teach their children in the scriptures is a key to seeing God’s grace and mercy in our families. We want our grandchildren to learn, remember, and do our Father’s commandments. As we taught our son, “Listen, Remember, Obey.”
One couple in the early church who kept God at the center of their marriage was Aquila and Priscilla. They are only mentioned in the Bible together, never separately. This dynamic married couple grew in their spiritual understanding together as they lived with Paul and supported his ministry.
The Bible shows us how to live according to God’s plan. It also shows people who did not love God and obey His will in their lives. That includes Cain who killed his brother [Genesis 4:1-8], Balaam who sought bribes [Numbers 22], Saul who preferred worldly prestige and riches to serving God [1 Samuel 15], Solomon who was deceived by the idolatry of his many wives [1 Kings 11:14], and Judas who betrayed his Master for worldly power and money [John 12:6].
Peter is well known as an apostle and leader in the early church. He was married to a wonderful woman who supported him, and Jesus, in their ministry.
Joseph and Mary are another believing example of a married couple who did God’s will. In their lives we see: Mary’s immediate obedience to God, God’s care for Joseph’s concerns, how they obeyed the law they knew to fulfill a prophecy about the Messiah, God encouraging them by other faithful believers, God showing Joseph how to protect and care for his young family, their teaching Jesus the Scriptures so he could grow in God’s grace, and God blessing them with a big family.
Zacharias and Elisabeth are great examples of a united couple who learned, at times from mistakes, and were bold to speak for God. They were filled by the Holy Spirit and saw God’s grace, forgiveness, service, and deliverance in their lives.
There are many ideas about how to be a good parent as a Christian believer. Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church has some great principles we can follow to be like our heavenly Father when we raise our own children.
Time to get dressed.