Closing Thought: In the final moments of His earthly ministry, Jesus led His disciples to Bethany to bless them. As He blessed them, He ascended to glory. The disciples did not grieve; they rejoiced. Their worship flowed from the deep well of hope, fueled by the promises of Jesus. Jesus rose and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He reigns, He intercedes, He prepares a place for us. He will return to take us to glory, and until then we will live in submission to our King, filled with the hope of His return.

1. The apostles did not see Jesus completely until they saw Him in the Scriptures 2. Repentance and Forgiveness of sin cannot be separated. While repentance is not a work that leads to salvation, it most certainly is an inevitable and necessary fruit of salvation. 3. Understanding the Scriptures is not enough to power the Christian life. The Christian must be clothed by power from on high.

After Jesus rose from the dead, and took on an immortal body, He appeared to His true disciples. Their "eyewitness" reports, which we find in the Bible, allow us to "see" the Risen Lord and assure us that we too will one day have an immortal body like His and share in eternal life with Him in heaven. Hallelujah and Amen!

Closing Thought: The disciples on the road to Emmaus were downcast because the Messiah they had followed was dead and gone. Jesus met them on their way, explained to them that the true Messiah would suffer and die like the One whom they were lamenting having lost. When God allowed them to see Jesus for Who He truly is they believed. This is a great pattern for us to follow; proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are hopeless and pray God would send His Holy Spirit to quicken hearts.

Closing Thought: Jesus has risen; He is alive! Because He lives, death loses its sting, and the grave holds no power over those who believe. As believers, we will live eternally with Him in glory—free from pain, sorrow, and sin, embracing perfect harmony and peace with God forever. Our faith is rooted in the truth that Jesus rose from the dead, confirming that God accepts Jesus' sacrifice and that eternal death has been defeated. If you haven't done so already, will today be the day that you believe that Jesus died for your sins and is now risen, so you can be reconciled with God?

The reactions to Jesus' death were deeply varied. The Gentile Centurion recognized His divine nature and righteousness, while the Jewish crowd felt remorse for their actions. His followers were heartbroken, grappling with the reality of His death. Among them was a devoted disciple who placed his trust in Jesus as the key to the Kingdom of God. Meanwhile, those who had orchestrated Jesus' death sought to hide their involvement, hoping to cover up their sin. The belief in Jesus as the Messiah resonates across different perspectives, yet some, despite their knowledge, choose to reject it. Others believe in the death of death via the Son of God. So, where do you stand?

Closing Thought: The death of Jesus stands as the most significant moment in all of history. His sacrifice didn't merely open the door to eternal life; it guaranteed it for His people. Jesus bore the full weight of God's wrath, serving as a redemptive force for those destined to be saved by grace through faith, bestowing His righteousness upon us. IT IS FINISHED! There is nothing more to achieve. Jesus completed everything for those who have faith. His death defeated death itself, ushering countless sons and daughters into glory.

We never outgrow the cross...

Closing Thought: The Jews who demanded Jesus' crucifixion, and Pilate who ordered it against his own verdict, had no justification for their actions. They were condemned for rejecting Jesus as the path to The Kingdom of God through the forgiveness of sins. God's plan of redemption has existed since the beginning of time and cannot be changed. Regardless of the severity of one's sins, the only requirement for salvation is to know they are sinners, to repent of those sins and have faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and remission of the penalty due them because of their sins.