"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" This question from the angels at Jesus' empty tomb challenges everything we assume about death, life, and how forgiveness operates. When confronted with the resurrection, we must reconsider our understanding of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Our natural instinct when wronged is to establish boundaries and limits. Peter approached Jesus with this very mindset, asking, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" He sought permission to draw a line in the sand. Jesus responded by transforming the question entirely, shifting from a limit to a lifestyle of forgiveness.

The story becomes deeply personal when we consider Peter's own failure. After boldly declaring his loyalty, Peter denied Jesus three times beside a charcoal fire. Yet after resurrection, Jesus intentionally prepared another charcoal fire on the shore, creating the perfect setting for reconciliation. Before Peter even swam the hundred yards to reach him, Jesus had already set the stage for healing.

This message outlines five practical ways to know if we've truly forgiven someone: Have we released their debt? Do we entrust justice to God rather than seeking vengeance? Do we wish them good rather than harm? Are we actively pursuing reconciliation? And most importantly, are we viewing them through the lens of what Christ has done for us rather than what they've done against us?

Forgiveness isn't primarily about feelings but choices. Like the women who couldn't properly honor Jesus' body before the Sabbath but discovered he was already risen, we often feel our efforts at forgiveness are inadequate. Yet Jesus works in the unseen while we wait. He prepares the shore, starts the fire, and waits for us to simply come to him.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

In the midst of his greatest suffering, Jesus offers us the most profound lessons about forgiveness. While inches away from the cross, after being mocked and beaten, Jesus shows more concern for others than for himself.

Through just three statements spoken from the cross, Jesus revolutionizes our understanding of forgiveness. His first words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," reveal that forgiveness is something Jesus offers freely, even to those actively causing him harm. This forces us to confront uncomfortable questions: Have we truly forgiven others, or have we merely stopped thinking about them? Is there someone we claim to have forgiven while secretly maintaining a record of their wrongs?

When Jesus tells the repentant thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise," we see forgiveness practiced fully. Notice how Jesus interrupts his communion with the Father to welcome one more sinner into the kingdom. The criminal's simple request—"Jesus, remember me"—stands in stark contrast to our complicated formulas for salvation. This reveals the beautiful truth that nothing and no one is beyond God's forgiveness, challenging us to examine whether we're holding someone's past sin as greater than God's current grace.

With his final words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," Jesus fulfills forgiveness finally. All sin—past, present, and future—has been completely dealt with. The debt is canceled, not just deferred. This invites us to trust that our own sins are truly forgiven and to extend that same complete forgiveness to others.

Most powerfully, we see humanity's transformation through witnessing Christ's forgiveness. Our first response at the cross—"He saved others, let him save himself"—becomes "Certainly this man was innocent." When we truly encounter Christ's forgiveness, we can't help but be changed. Will you allow that transformation to reshape how you forgive others today?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The crucifixion stands as history's ultimate demonstration of sacrificial love—a moment when the sinless Son of God willingly suffered what was rightfully ours to give us what could never be ours through our own efforts.

Journeying through the religious and political trials Jesus endured reveals a profound truth: the Creator of the universe stood silent before His accusers, accepting false charges, mockery, and brutal treatment that our sin deserved. Though declared innocent multiple times by both Pilate and Herod, the crowd demanded His crucifixion instead of Barabbas, an actual insurrectionist and murderer—a powerful picture of the substitution at the heart of our salvation.

This "great exchange" offers believers five extraordinary gifts purchased at the cross. Through expiation, our sin is completely removed, liberating us from crushing guilt and shame. Through propitiation, God's righteous anger toward sin is fully satisfied, assuring us that no sin is too grievous to be forgiven. Through justification, we're declared righteous despite our imperfections, giving us a fresh start not just once but daily. Through reconciliation, we're brought back into relationship with the Father we ran from, providing the family connection our hearts crave. Through imputation, we're clothed in Christ's perfection, addressing our deepest feelings of inadequacy.

These aren't theological abstractions but practical, life-changing realities available to anyone who comes with empty hands and an open heart. Whatever your struggle today—whether shame over past mistakes, doubt about God's forgiveness, need for a fresh start, longing for family, or feelings of never measuring up—the cross offers precisely what you need. Will you reach out and receive what Jesus suffered so greatly to give you?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The garden of Gethsemane reveals encouraging truths about suffering that can transform how Christians navigate their own pain. Two profound insights lie hidden in this familiar passage: Jesus knows the solution before we even encounter the problem, and God deliberately preserved the details of Jesus' suffering so we would know our pain is never foreign to him.

• Jesus went to pray "as was his custom" even facing his darkest hour
• An angel strengthened Jesus, yet he remained in agony
• Supernatural support from God doesn't always end our difficulties but enables us to endure them
• Five elements of a (non-exhaustive) Christian doctrine of suffering: it's promised, unites us with Christ, equips us to comfort others, deepens our dependence on God, and produces spiritual growth
• Suffering has purpose—it produces endurance, character, and hope
• Jesus moved from confidence to conflict and back to confidence again
• Peter's denial was met not with rejection but with Jesus' gaze of love
• God specially preserved the intimate details of Jesus' suffering that no disciple witnessed
• Jesus understands our suffering firsthand—he has carried every grief and sorrow
• Our Savior holds the fix before the failure ever occurs

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

What does it mean to truly be great in God's kingdom? In this powerful exploration of Luke 22:24-30, we discover Jesus confronting his disciples in a moment of profound disconnect—they're arguing about who's the greatest while Jesus prepares for his imminent sacrifice.

The contrast couldn't be more striking. While the disciples jockey for position, Jesus redefines greatness through the lens of service: "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them... But not so with you." This countercultural teaching challenges our deepest assumptions about leadership, success, and significance.

Most of us approach serving others with what might be called a "cut the check" mentality—keeping our distance, maintaining comfort, preserving our status. Jesus, however, demonstrates incarnational service. He didn't merely send help from heaven; he entered our world, walked our paths, felt our pain, and ultimately gave his life. True greatness isn't found in receiving service but in providing it.

What's particularly moving about this passage is Jesus' interaction with Peter. When Satan demands to "sift him like wheat," Jesus doesn't promise to defeat the enemy outright—he simply says, "I have prayed for you." This prayer carries power (Christ's authority over all things), permanence (he never stops interceding), and purpose (to bring us safely home). Even knowing Peter will fail spectacularly, Jesus assures him of restoration and future purpose.

This reveals the heart of the gospel: a perfect kingdom awaits those who underestimate their enemy, overestimate themselves, and follow a rejected king. We're all limping to the finish line in some area of our lives. The good news? Jesus doesn't demand impressive performance—he picks us up when we fall and carries us home.

Just like exhausted marathon runners who collapse before crossing the finish line, we were never meant to complete this race on our own strength. The incredible reality is that God doesn't disqualify us for our failures but gives us the perfect record of Christ himself. Will you trust the One who serves, the One who prays, the One who carries you across the line?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The tension between control and betrayal during the Last Supper reveals deep truths about human nature and divine fate. We explore Judas Iscariot’s decisions and the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice through the lens of Luke 22.

• Key events leading up to the Last Supper 
• The significance of Passover in the context 
• The motivations behind Judas's betrayal 
• Jesus's transformative teachings at the meal 
• Understanding the new covenant introduced by Jesus 
• The call to heartfelt introspection for believers 
• The implications of Jesus's sacrifice for our lives 
• The importance of authentic faith over appearances 
• The assurance of God's control throughout the narrative 

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

This episode explores Jesus's teachings from Luke 21 about the end times, focusing on the need for believers to hold onto hope and maintain an active faith. We discuss how individual posture influences our response to a chaotic world, and emphasize the church’s role in bringing fearlessness to those in need.

• Reflection on inner posture and its impact on faith 
• Contextual background of Jesus's last teachings 
• The importance of anticipating Jesus’s return 
• Faithful ways to respond to end-time anxieties 
• The call to a fearless church amid global distress 
• Seven key realities about the end times 
• Encouragement towards personal engagement and community 
• Watchfulness and preparation for Jesus's return

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Jesus teaches that all earthly things are temporary, and true faith lies in trusting Him. As we reflect on the message of Luke 21, we explore themes of suffering, opportunity, and enduring faith in the face of life's uncertainties.

• Disciple's admiration for the Temple and Jesus' counterpoint 
• The widow’s offering as a lesson in true devotion 
• Urgency of discerning truth amidst distractions 
• Viewing suffering as opportunities for witness 
• Hope in eternal promises amid life’s challenges 
• Importance of faith over material stability

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

We venture into the fascinating dynamics between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time, exploring themes of authority and sacrificial generosity. By unpacking Psalm 110, we unravel the Messiah's unparalleled authority, reshaping our perspectives on faith and giving. Through the inspiring example of the poor widow's quiet act of generosity, we are reminded of the true essence of giving and faith. Join us in this enlightening journey where we embrace our weaknesses and God's gracious provision, all while sharing a light-hearted laugh about a baptism setup hiccup reflecting our readiness to support each other in faith.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Have you ever found yourself awestruck by the wisdom of someone so much that it changes your entire perspective? Will shares his experiences of being starstruck by influential figures like David Crowder and John Piper, drawing parallels with the profound impact of Jesus' teachings in Luke 20. Through his famous advice to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's," Jesus not only silenced his critics but left an enduring message of how we should navigate tricky interactions with wisdom and grace. We explore the importance of turning admiration into actionable change, inspired by Jesus as a model for managing difficult relationships.

Imagine using your opponent's strength against them, not in a fight, but in a conversation. This week, we unravel how Jesus, much like a skilled judoka, masterfully navigates conflicts, such as the contentious issue of paying taxes to Caesar. His approach introduces a 'third way,' demonstrating the gospel's unique method of transcending binary choices. As we dissect these encounters, we delve into the rich layers of meaning behind Jesus' responses, emphasizing the heart over material concerns and encouraging us to embody peace and confidence in our daily interactions.

Do you wonder how the belief in resurrection shapes our lives today? We examine a thought-provoking dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees that challenges the concept of resurrection, revealing deeper truths about life after death. This episode sheds light on how setting our minds on heavenly things can transform our earthly struggles, offering hope and accountability. We conclude by reflecting on the gentle grace of Christ through communion, celebrating the ongoing transformation in our faith journey and the call to live a life marked by forgiveness and love. Join us for an exploration of how these timeless teachings continue to resonate and inspire change.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.