Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Monthly Archives: April 2012


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On The Road To The Cross – Saturday

John 19:38-40

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[c] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people.  He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the high court in Israel, the court which had condemned Jesus Christ to death. When he first sought out Jesus, Nicodemus went at night, so no one would see him. He was afraid of might happen if he spoke to Jesus in broad daylight. But for Nicodemus there must be something more to life than religion, Nicodemus learned that he must be born again that he could have a relationship. He helped Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus’ body together they prepared it and lay it in a tomb, at great risk to his safety and reputation, and at great personal cost, Myrrh was very costly!

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had lived as secret followers of Jesus, afraid to make a public profession of faith because of their prominent positions in the Jewish community. Both were deeply affected by Christ’s death, they boldly came out of hiding, risking their reputations and their lives because they now realized who Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah.

Are you tired of religion? are you looking for something more? for a real Savior? Nichodemus found him have you? And if you have found Him are you hidind it coming to Jesus in secret holding back, or are you boldly coming to ask for Jesus, willing to pay the high cost because He paid for you!


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On The Road To The Cross – Friday

Luke 23:26

26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

To travel to Jerusalem for Passover was the desire of every Jew who lived outside of Judea. And their dedication was evidenced by the distance they traveled to get there. The city of Cyrene was an ancient Greek colony, located on the northeastern coast of present-day Libya, about 900 miles from Jerusalem, and those who made the journey most like made it only a handful of times in their life.
Travel from Cyrene to Jerusalem took a month or more, and was potentially dangerous. So for Simon of Cyrene and others, seeing the city walls coming into view offered relief and a sense of accomplishment.
A Roman soldier pulled him from the crowd, ordering him to carry the cross. Simon must have been mortified. He knew that to carry it would render him unclean, and thus unfit to eat the Passover meal. All those miles he had traveled would have been in vain. Surely anger and fear stirred within him. Anger over a Roman’s authority to ask him to do such a thing, and fear of what would be done to him if he refused to obey. Serving Jesus requires following Him and getting our hands dirty. Jesus said being His disciple would involve denying self taking up our cross daily and following Him (Luke 9:23). We can carry many different kinds of burdens many self inflicted but the ones we carry in the service to the Lord are ones of joy. What burdens are you carrying? Are there things you need to lay down so you can carry your cross?  Simon was seized and forced to carry Christ’s cross if you had been there would they have had to force you? How about today are you serving, taking up your cross and following Jesus willingly or because you have to?  Simon missed the Passover but not the Savior. What a privilage it would have been to carry the cross for Jesus that day it still is, He is passing by would you pick up your cross and follow?