6.6 The Church is ultimately governed by Christ, but He does so through calling individuals to lead local Churches. Leaders do not exercise authority on their own account, but in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This comes
You’ll see
Jerusalem’s leading men – the Sanhedrin – want Jesus condemned to death, but the evidence is severely lacking. So the High Priest demands to know if he claims to be God’s Son. Yet the man will not name God in
Safe getaway
Jesus is in Gethsemane with 11 of his disciples. The 12th then arrives – Judas – but he does so to betray. It’s such an ugly scene as Judas exploits his friends’ confusion to sell Jesus with a kiss of
Squeezed in the press
As his enemies close in, and death draws near, Jesus protects his disciples and readies them to run. However, there one more element of preparation he needs for himself and them: prayer. So they walk to Gethsemane, a place where
Hit the shepherd
Jesus has his death on his mind because it’s so close now. But he’s also concerned for his disciples. They need to understand that he will be hit hard, like the shepherd of Zechariah 13. When that happens they will
A new Passover [2]
On the evening before he dies, Jesus shares an intimate meal with his disciples. It begins as a Passover, but feels like no other Passover meal his team have ever had, as the threat of his death hangs over the
A new Passover
For centuries Israel has celebrated the Passover, a festival which looks back to the grief-filled night in Egypt when God redeemed the nation from violent slavery. Now Jesus will celebrate it with his twelve disciples. But he’s aware that everything
Perfume of death
The time has come for Jesus to die. Now the forces of evil, which he has been so powerful against, will be allowed to do their worst. It begins with the scheming, greedy crooks up at the temple being ready
Look up!
Jesus is preparing his disciples to stand firm in the catastrophe which is coming to ancient Israel, especially Jerusalem and her temple. They must see, in those future days, that he has ascended to rule from above and is building
Getaway
From Jesus’ ascension until just before the fall of Jerusalem his followers must testify to Israel: tell of what God has done through his Son whom they killed. Some will believe and be saved. But many won’t and the formal