Just hours before His arrest, Jesus performed the lowly task of washing the feet of the disciples. Christ calls us to follow his example – to be be willing servants of others. Jesus also explained to Peter that if a person has bathed, he only needs his feet washed daily. In the same way when we believe in Christ, our sins are forgiven once for all, but because we still sin we need daily cleansing to remain in close fellowship with the Lord. The post An Enacted Parable appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus took on the lowly task of washing the disciples' feet. Jesus "showed the full extent of His love," not only by washing their feet, but by dying for the sins of all. Although He possessed sovereign authority as Emmanuel, God with us -- He stooped to serve. May we make the specific choice to cultivate humility (1Peter 5:5). The post Jesus the Humble Servant appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

As Jesus speaks with Martha before raising Lazarus from the dead, (John 11:25-26) He first clams to be the self existent, self sustaining I AM. Next, He promises to be the resurrection and the life for all who believe. Finally, He asks the question, "Do you believe this?" It is critical to understand that the promises of a physical resurrection (Philippians 3:20) and never-ending spiritual life (2 Corinthians 5:8) are only for those who believe in Christ, personally relying on Him. We must trust, not in our own works, but in Christ's substitutionary death on our behalf. The post The Seventh Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

Without hope in Christ, the fear and denial of death are very real. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that the Gospel frees us from the fear of death. When the disciples and over 500 others saw the resurrection of Jesus, they believed that He was the Messiah. When we believe the truth of the Gospel, we experience salvation. We also can agree with the writer, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV) The post Free from the Fear of Death appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

The resurrection is evidence that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as explained in 1 Corinthians 15:17. If Christ did not rise, our faith is worthless and we are still in a state of unforgiveness, answerable to the holy God for our sin. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)" This hope is freely available to all who believe. Let us worship the risen Jesus! The post Why Jesus was Raised appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” […] The post The Fifth Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus […] The post The Fourth Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you […] The post The Third Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, […] The post The Second Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six […] The post The First Sign appeared first on Cary Alliance Church.