Contrary to the impulsive, unpredictable and self-serving ways of the gods, the Ephesians are coming to know that the true God is loving, gracious and centered on His human family to reconcile and restore them through Jesus to the warm, loving, personal relationship for which He created them in the beginning.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Jewish and Gentile believers who were members of house churches located in and around the ancient city of Ephesus.

Love does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.

Not The End

The response of: Judas, deep regret leading to death. The Religious Leaders, Hostile rejection. Pilate, Indifference. The Centurian, Profound Confession. Nature, Cosmic Protest. God, Wrath applied. Jesus, Sacrificial Obedience. What is your response to the death of Jesus the Messiah?

These religious leaders have determined to condemn Jesus at any cost, clearly violating the very LAW that they pretend to hold so preeminent. They had a conviction and were in search of a crime.

Facing the darkest hours of His human existence, Jesus masters His flesh and brings it into submission to His spirit which is committed to doing His Father's will. In contrast, the flesh has the upper hand and undermines the desire of the disciples to be loyal to Jesus.

Jesus knew the purpose of his death. It was for the forgiveness of sins. Not just for the disciples, but for many. This is the working out of God's plan that was revealed through the prophets (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:10-11).

The role of these young ladies was to escort the bridegroom in a torchlight procession to his house and the wedding feast. The "lamps" were actually torches for outdoor usage - cloth wound round a stick and soaked with oil.

Matthew 24 Review