Author: Nathaniel Colt

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Read: Romans 5:8–9

In a courtroom, when someone is on trial for something they are accused of doing, there is a prosecutor and a defense attorney. The prosecutor tries to prove that the accused person is guilty, while the defense attorney tries to prove the accused person’s innocence or at least ensure they have a fair trial.

If this were the case when we were standing before God, and, if Jesus had not come, we would be proven guilty every time because of our sin. But, because of God’s great love for us, even while we were sinners and guilty of sin, God sent His Son to die for us and pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus took our place and our punishment. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can be made right with God and saved from eternal separation from Him. Jesus saves us and makes it possible for us to have eternal life in heaven with Him.

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Read: Hebrews 1:3

Casting is an art form that makes a duplicate sculpture of something. An artist will mix a special powder with water and place it around a person’s hands until the mold is set. Their hands are removed from the mold. Then a mixture of plaster of Paris is poured into the mold and given several hours to dry. Once dried, the mold is removed to reveal an exact replica of the person’s hands. The cast, down to the very tiny details, is the exact imprint of the person’s hands.

The Scripture we read today talks about how Jesus expresses the very character of God. He allowed people to see the radiance of God’s glory. All the power of God, Jesus has because Jesus is God. After Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven and is now seated “at the right hand” of the Father. Jesus is alive and because He holds all power, He wants us to trust Him with our life. Jesus, the living God, has power over everything we face. Because He loves us, He is willing to work and move for us!

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Read: John 1:1–5, 14

It’s hard for us to imagine before “the beginning,” because for us, everything has a starting point. But, the Bible says that “in the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Bible is referring to Jesus before He came to earth, and it calls Him “the Word.” Jesus is God and was with God the Father even before the beginning. He was never created. He simply always has been. Doesn’t that just blow your mind? Through Jesus’ power, He gave life to everything that was created. And when He came to earth in human form, His life brought light and life to all who believe in Him.

When you look in a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself. It’s the same person, but it’s as if two different people are standing there. The mirror reveals to us what we look like and reflects who we are. Jesus, the Word, reveals and reflects who God is. Jesus is fully God, but came to earth and experienced everything humans face. But, He lived without sinning. Then, after He gave His life to pay for our sin, He showed the power of God by raising from the dead. He did all of this so we could have a relationship with God the Father and experience for ourself the life that Jesus brings.

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Read: 1 Peter 2:21–25

In baseball, coaches use a pinch hitter as a substitute for another player, usually a weaker hitter, who is due up to bat. Jesus covered our weaknesses by becoming a substitute for us.

Jesus is the only person who never sinned. Because of this, He is the only one who could be our substitute by taking the punishment for our sins. Jesus is fully God and fully human. His death and resurrection show His power to heal us spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. When we trust Jesus and follow His ways, He will lead us and guide us to the full life He has planned for us. We will see His power in our life.

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Read: Matthew 1:18–24

What is the most surprising thing that has ever happened to you? Maybe someone gave you a surprise birthday party or jumped around a corner and surprised you when you didn’t know they were there. Surprises can be good or bad. Either way, you will have feelings associated with the surprise.

When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant, we can only imagine how he must have felt. This was probably the biggest surprise of his life. The woman he planned to marry was carrying the Son of God—Jesus, the promised Messiah, the One who would save His people from their sins. Jesus willingly left heaven and came to earth as a baby for one purpose: to save us. He came to earth, full of love for us, knowing that He would end up giving His life to cover the penalty of our sins. But, He also knew that three days later He would rise again. Jesus is alive right now and is actively working in our life when we trust in Him.

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Read: Romans 12:1–2

Something amazing happens when you add Mentos® candy to a bottle of soda. As soon as you drop the candy into the soda, a change happens. Soda begins to shoot out of the bottle. If you put enough Mentos in the bottle, you can make the soda go superhigh.

Something more amazing happens when people accept Jesus as Savior and allow Him to change the way they think and live.

Jesus was willing to give up everything so we could have eternal life with Him. The Bible says that the true way to worship Him is to give Him all of us—to sacrifice our own desires and will to please Him, and follow His desires and His will. When we turn away from the things of the world, give ourself to God, and allow Him to transform our life, we become more like Jesus and learn to walk in the perfect will of God. Then God takes our life and uses it to change those around us.

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Read: Hebrews 12:1–3

Have you ever seen someone after they’ve run a long race? Typically, they look like they could just collapse at any moment. They have put every bit every bit of energy they have into finishing as high in the standings as they can. Often, they are out of breath, sweating heavily, tired, and hungry.

When Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross, He gave everything He had to do what was required to pay for our sins. He didn’t care what He looked like or what it cost Him. He willingly sacrificed His life for us because He loves us. He knew that because of His sacrifice, we would be able to have a relationship with God and have eternal life with Him in heaven. Knowing that should keep us pressing on to finish the race that God has set before us.

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Read: 1 Corinthians 15:3–8

Can you imagine what it might have been like to see Jesus after He was raised from the dead? Some of the people these verses talk about had seen Jesus on the cross, watched Him die, and had seen His tomb. Yet, just as the Scriptures had promised, three days later He was raised from the dead! Hundreds of people saw Him after He came back to life. What an incredible event to be able to witness! There must have been feelings of shock and surprise, feelings of hope and feelings of joy when people saw that Jesus had defeated death. These people told others about this incredible event whenever they could.

We can experience the same type of hope and joy that the people who saw Jesus experienced. Jesus rose from the dead and was victorious over death, the grave, and sin! Out of love for us, Jesus sacrificed His life so that we could be victorious over sin and have the hope and joy of eternal life with Him forever.