THE LAMB OF GOD

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John 1:19b ESV)

Remember this, “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3b). When God looks at you, He sees Jesus first. In the Chinese language the word for righteousness is a combination of two characters, the figure of a lamb and a person. The lamb is on top, covering the person. Whenever God looks down at you, this is what He sees: the perfect Lamb of God covering you. 

-- Max Lucado in “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”

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THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LORD

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does.”  (Psalm 145:17)

Imagine the incredible opportunity that lies before you simply because you serve a righteous God. No matter where you are on the journey -- just beginning, halfway through, or nearing the final stretch -- you can choose today to walk in greater righteousness. You can choose to honor God in your relationships, in your work, in your marriage, and in the way you raise your children.

Deep within us is a longing to live rightly and to know God -- who is always righteous, never unpredictable or unjust. And the good news is this: the God who walks with us is perfectly righteous, eternally good, and utterly trustworthy. By His example and His strength, we are invited to share in that righteousness and reflect it in every part of our lives.

Here’s a practical way to view this: Righteousness is living in such a way that God’s heart shapes your heart; God’s ways shape your choices; God’s truth shapes your worldview; God’s love shapes your relationships. It’s becoming more like Him because you walk with Him. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8 NIV)  

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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VICTORY IN JESUS

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NIV)

The natives of the Fiji Islands have a hopeless custom known as "calling to the dead."  The one who has suffered the death of a loved one climbs to a high tree or cliff.  He mentions the name of the deceased, then cries out desperately, "Come back!  Come back!"  The eerie echo of grief fills the air.  Those who have suffered the loss of their soul mate, companion, or beloved child can sympathize deeply.

The Christian does not need to climb to the top of a cliff, because Jesus climbed the hill of Calvary.  You don't have to cry out, "Come back!" from a high tree, because Jesus cried out, "Father, forgive them," from a wooden cross.  The resurrection power of Christ over death and hell brings a Christian hope in this life and the life to come.

-- Lenya Heitzig and Penny Pierce Rose in “Pathway to God's Treasure: Ephesians”

#6348

FOCUSED ON THE ONE TASK

Life is tough enough as it is. It’s even tougher when we’re headed in the wrong direction.

One of the incredible abilities of Jesus was to stay on target. His life never got off track. He had no money, no computers, no jets, no administrative assistants or staff, yet Jesus did what many of us fail to do. He kept His life on course.

As Jesus looked across the horizon of His future, He could see many targets. Many flags were flapping in the wind, each of which He could have pursued. He could have been a political revolutionary. He could have been a national leader. But in the end He chose to be a Savior and save souls.

Anyone near Christ for any length of time heard it from Jesus Himself. “The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” (Luke 19:10)  “The Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many people.” (Mark 10:45)

The heart of Christ was relentlessly focused on one task. The day He left the carpentry shop of Nazareth He had one ultimate aim -- the cross of Calvary. He was so focused that His final words were, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

How could Jesus say He was finished? There were still the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, the untaught to instruct, and the unloved to love. How could He say He was finished? Simple. He had completed His designated task. His commission was fulfilled. The painter could set aside his brush, the sculptor lay down his chisel, the writer put down his pen. The job was done.

Wouldn’t you love to be able to say the same? Wouldn’t you love to look back on your life and know you had done what you were called to do?   

-- Max Lucado in “Just Like Jesus”

#6347

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN 0 AND 153

“Jesus called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”  (John 21:5-11 NIV)

First-century fishing boats were seven and a half feet wide. So what’s the point of trying the other side? What difference does ninety inches make?

Then Jesus gives them an unforgettable object lesson: sometimes ninety inches is the distance between 0 and 153. You may be only seven and a half feet from a miracle – but you have to try the other side!

Miracles don’t just happen when we believe God for big things. Miracles happen when we obey God in the little things. When we do little things like they are big things, God will do big things like they are little things. 

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible” 

#6346

JESUS MEETS US ON THE WAY

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him… As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him…” (Luke 28:13-16, 28-31a NIV)

There are times when all of us long for the companionship of Christ. When we are facing some deep loneliness that seems to darken the brightest day, some great sorrow that has broken our heart and changed our lives, or some heavy burden that comes through no action or fault of our own. At times like these we long for the presence of one who speaks our name, understands our plight, and can break the hold of loneliness, sorrow, despair, and burdens we bear.

There are other times when we are at the peak of our powers and all is going well that we want someone to walk with us, to share our challenge, excitement, and reward of the path we have chosen. We desire a companion who can appreciate the challenge and victory of life in the days when all is well.

There are still other times when we need a companion to whom we can say thank you. There are those times when we are overwhelmed with gratitude. We know that the goodness we enjoy is not just the result of our good work but that someone else had a hand in our well-being, comfort, and success.

At times like these it is good to remember that the risen Christ walks beside us – awaiting our invitation to stay with us, break bread with us, interpret life for us, give us hope, and share in our thanksgiving. May we, like the disciples before us, have our eyes opened to recognize Christ as He comes to walk beside us this day. 

-- Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God”

#6345

GIVING TESTIMONY – Part 2 of 2

“Jesus said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”  (Acts 1:8 NIV)

The women returned early in the morning of the first day of the week with the amazing word of an empty tomb and the astounding news, "He is risen!"  The actors playing the disciples remained true to their assigned parts, expressing disbelief and confidence that this news from the women was but an "idle tale."

But then the script called for three members of the congregation to stand up and give testimony, to bear witness in court as it were, to the truth of the resurrection. "I know He is alive," each one was to begin.  The first was Angie.  "I know that He is alive," she said, "because He is alive in me."  She then told how she was abused by her father, how she fell into despair and alcoholism, and became HIV-positive. But then she responded to the welcome of the church, then she started attending worship, then a Bible study, and bit by bit she rose from the grave of her life. Now she is a seminary student, studying to be a pastor. "I am now alive because Jesus Christ lives in me and through me," Angie said, her face aglow. "I am a temple of the Holy Spirit."

The two other witnesses stood in turn, each reciting the assigned part of the script: "I know that He is alive."  Then that portion of the play was done, and it was time to move on. But the testimony would not stop. Others in the sanctuary began to rise spontaneously. "I know that He is alive," they would say, "because He is alive in me." Homeless people, addicts now clean, the least and the lost, stood one by one. Nothing could stop them. "I know that He is alive," they shouted, all giving corroborating testimony to the witness of Jesus, adding their own word to the great witness of Easter, telling the truth about what they had seen, heard, and experienced.

-- Excerpted from “Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian” by Thomas G. Long

#6344

GIVING TESTIMONY – Part 1 of 2

“Jesus said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”  (Acts 1:8 NIV)

From the beginning, putting the Christian faith into words out in the everyday arenas of life has been called testimony or witness. These are the strong and good words… Often when witness and testimony are employed in Christian circles, they refer only to autobiographical accounts of how somebody became a Christian …

Witness and testimony are big words, and we need to recover their full range of meaning. They are borrowed from the world of the law court, and in a court of law, something important is being contested, something or someone is "on trial." …

Jesus is the true and faithful witness, and Christians, as a part of God's people, are corroborating witnesses. Our testimony is, in effect, "What Jesus said and did is the truth about God and about human life, and we ourselves can attest in our own lives to the power of this truth."

A friend of mine, Heidi Neumark, served for several years as the pastor of a Lutheran church in the South Bronx, in perhaps the poorest of all poor neighborhoods in America. Her first Sunday as pastor, Heidi understood what kind of church she was serving when she found under the altar a box of rat poison next to the communion wafers. Members of her congregation include former addicts and undocumented aliens, the unemployed and the recently homeless. It is the kind of congregation Paul was talking about when he wrote, "Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise" (I Corinthians 1:26-27).

During Holy Week several years ago, this congregation decided to reenact in a passion play the whole sweep of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter.  They began by dramatizing Jesus' entry into the city, borrowing a live donkey and, led by an actor playing the part of Jesus, parading in a long procession around the block of the shabby storefronts and run-down apartments shouting, "Hosanna!"  When they got around the block and back to the door of the church, the Palm Sunday procession ran into a street demonstration protesting police brutality. It was fitting, really, as Jesus and the protesters, the congregation and the street crowds, the cries of "Hosanna!" and the cries of social outrage mingled together in a swirl of movement and noise. In fact, someone passing by on the street, seeing the confusion and fearing trouble, even called the police, whose arrival brought a bit of added color and drama. Somehow the processional managed to make it inside the church, where, as the play unfolded, Jesus was tried, condemned, and executed. But then women returned early in the morning of the first day of the week with the amazing word of an empty tomb and the astounding news, "He is risen!"  The actors playing the disciples remained true to their assigned parts, expressing disbelief and confidence that this news from the women was but an "idle tale."

-- Excerpted from “Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian” by Thomas G. Long

#6343

THE LAST WORD

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”  (John 20:1 NIV)

Early on the first day of the week, some of those who had loved Jesus the most came to pay Him love’s continuing respect. Especially, there was Mary of Magdala. She had been such a bewildered, mixed-up, self-destructive soul until Jesus came into her life, and He had turned her all around. But now He was gone. She had heard the last word: death. She had heard it right from hell, for hell is always trying to tell us that it has the last word.

When she got to the tomb, she found the body missing. This seemed like the final indignity, cruelty heaped on sorrow, for she felt someone had stolen His body. So she stood there weeping. That’s what you do, if you think the last word is the devil’s word: you weep.

Then a voice asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?” Mary was so broken by sorrow that she didn’t even look up, and so dulled by tragedy that she didn’t recognize the voice. “Sir,” she said, “if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” She may have been grief-stricken, but to her credit, she hadn’t stopped loving.

Then Jesus said just one word. “Mary.” He called her by name. It must have been reminiscent of that day, months or years before, when He spoke her name and in doing so, called her out of the darkness and confusion which had so long characterized her life. At any rate, it was all she needed. “Teacher!” she cried. Then she hurried back to the disciples. “I have seen the Lord!” she told them. Which is to say -- death was not the last word. It wasn’t even the next-to-last word. Hell tried to tell her, when they took her Lord from the cross and carried Him off to a tomb, that the last word had been spoken, but it hadn’t. Because the last word is God. And then, the exclamation point.

-- J. Ellsworth Kalas (1923-2015), excerpted from a sermon entitled “In the End, the Exclamation Point”, February 28, 1990 

#6342

“IT IS FINISHED”

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

Good Friday brings us to the foot of the cross, where the final words of Jesus ring out with earth‑shaking power: “It is finished.” In Greek, the word is tetelestai -- a single word that carries the weight of eternity.

In the ancient world, tetelestai was written on receipts to mean “paid in full.” It was spoken by servants reporting a completed task, by artists stepping back from a masterpiece, by priests announcing that a sacrifice had been offered without blemish. It was a word of completion, fulfillment, and victory.

And Jesus chose that word. Not “I am finished,” as if His life were slipping away. But “It is finished” -- a declaration, not of defeat, but of triumph.

At that moment: The debt of sin was paid in full. The long‑awaited sacrifice was complete. The work the Father gave Him to do was accomplished. The barrier between God and humanity cause by our sin was torn down. The serpent’s claim on humanity was shattered. What began in a garden with a forbidden tree ends on a hill with a rugged cross. What sin broke, Christ restored. What we could never do, He did perfectly. And He did it willingly.

When Jesus cried tetelestai, He wasn’t whispering resignation, He was proclaiming redemption. The Lamb of God was not overcome by death, He was offering Himself in love. The cross was not a tragedy to endure but a mission to complete.

Good Friday reminds us that our salvation does not rest on our striving, our goodness, or our spiritual performance. It rests entirely on the finished work of Christ. We don’t add to it. We don’t improve it. We simply receive it.

Because of tetelestai, you can rest.  The work that saves you is done. The grace that holds you is secure. The love that claimed you is complete. It is finished! 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6341

THE STORY OF BETRAYAL

“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He replied, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house.”’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.”  (Matthew 26:17-20 NIV)

The Passover is meant to be a festive and celebratory time, filled with joy as participants remember that those who were slaves were now set free, at last becoming one people, the people of God. If indeed the Last Supper began with such a tone, it changed during the course of the evening. Even beyond Jesus' foreknowledge of events, there was great apprehension in the room. Everyone was conscious of the heightened tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. They all wondered what was going to happen to Jesus -- and to them. Would there be repercussions from His action in the Temple? Might He finally proclaim Himself Messiah?

Jesus cut through the uncertainty with a statement so electric it still echoes across the centuries. "One of you," He said, looking at them in the sudden stillness of the Seder celebration, "will betray Me." (Mark 14:18)

He knew which one it was, but He did not say. "Surely, not I?" the disciples asked. (Mark 14:19) "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with Me" (Mark 14:20), Jesus said, probably referring to the bowl of charoset before them.

The story of betrayal winds its way through the rest of the Gospel accounts of the final twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. Before the night was through, Judas would betray Jesus; Peter would deny Him; and the disciples would desert Him, leaving Jesus utterly alone as He faced trial at the hands of His enemies.

The echoes of Jesus' prediction and of the acts of betrayal by those closest to Him are still discomfiting. In our own age,… we realize that such betrayals are commonplace. Jesus might well have said, "All of you will betray Me;" and with that realization, we must look finally at ourselves. 

-- Adam Hamilton in “24 Hours That Changed the World” 

#6340

REALLY, LORD?

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.”  (1 Peter 3:18 NLT)

Really now, Lord Jesus, is our sin so serious as to necessitate the sort of ugly drama we are forced to behold on Good Friday? Why should the noon sky turn toward midnight and the earth heave and the heavens be rent for our mere peccadilloes? To be sure, we’ve made our mistakes. Things didn’t turn out as we intended. There were unforeseen complications, factors beyond our control. But we meant well. We didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt. We’re only human, and is that so wrong?

Really now, Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, we may not be the very best people who ever lived, but surely we are not the worst. Others have committed more serious wrong. Ought we to be held responsible for the ignorance of our grandparents? They, like we, were doing the best they could, within the parameters of their time and place. We’ve always been forced to work with limited information. There’s always been a huge gap between our intentions and our results.

Please, Lord Jesus, die for someone else, someone whose sin is more spectacular, more deserving of such supreme sacrifice. We don’t want the responsibility. Really, Lord, is our unrighteousness so very serious? Are we such sinners that You should need to die for us?

Really, if You look at the larger picture, our sin, at least my sin, is so inconsequential. You are making too big a deal out of such meager rebellion. We don’t want Your blood on our hands. We don’t want our lives in any way to bear the burden of Your death. Really. Amen. 

-- Will Willimon in “The Best of Will Willimon”

#6339

ARE YOU A BYSTANDER OR A DISCIPLE?

Palm Sunday brought to mind the ecstatic crowds that laid palm branches at Jesus' feet -- a powerful, yet bittersweet moment of adulation. In that fleeting celebration, many cheered a Savior who would soon face the cross. It’s a vivid reminder that worship shouldn’t be reserved for a single season or dramatic occasion. Instead, it calls us to ask ourselves: Are we content to be bystanders -- waving our palm branches when the excitement is high -- or do we commit to following Christ every day, even when the path becomes rugged and unclear?

In the bustling moments of Palm Sunday, the crowd's cheers were loud and visible. Yet, history reminds us that many of those same voices would soon fade into silence. They celebrated through an event marked by triumph but did not carry that same fervor into the long, shadowed hours and days that followed -- the times where fully embracing the cost of discipleship was required. This challenges us today. Are we simply passive observers of faith, quick to join in communal excitement for special events, while our everyday lives remain untouched by the radical call of Christ? The true disciple does not merely attend celebrations; he or she is transformed in the ordinary and breaks through the mundane, living out the love, sacrifice, and faithful perseverance that Jesus modeled.

During this Holy Week, reflect on whether you’ve been content to merely wave a branch from afar or if you’re ready to step into the vibrant, sometimes challenging, role of a true disciple. Remember, genuine faith calls not for bystanding but for wholehearted engagement with both the joy and the sorrow of Christ’s journey. Are you a bystander or a disciple? 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6338

A PALM SUNDAY JUXTAPOSITION

“Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’… They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.”  (Luke 19:28-35 NIV)

After the donkey is delivered, we have a clash of two processionals happening in the city of Jerusalem at the same time. Passover is going on. The city swells by several times its population. And coming in from the west we have (drumroll)…  Pontius Pilot, riding in on a stallion, a war horse. Behind him would be all the Roman army in their regalia -- with all their armor, their shields, their swords, and their spears. They would be marching in step into Jerusalem from the west, because this was Pilot’s time to shine and exhibit power. It’s called the Roman Peace – the Pax Romana. You know how peace came? Peace came from fear. You’d better be afraid of the Roman Empire. And they were in town to make sure this crowd wasn’t going to get too rowdy.

Meanwhile from the east, down from the Mount of Olives comes Jesus -- the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But He’s riding on a donkey? What’s up with that? Where are His soldiers; where’s His army? Imagine, His followers were a bunch of rejected tax collectors, prostitutes, fisherman, a bunch of misfits, a bunch of people nobody wants or sees, coming into town shouting, “Hosanna.”

What’s going on with this? Well, Jesus is offering a different kind of kingdom and a different kind of peace. Jesus’s peace comes, not through military power, but through the power of love. And He is setting up this conflict, this clash, which starts off as a celebration. “When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” (Luke 19:37-38 NIV)

Royalty was riding in. The problem is it’s coming in from the wrong direction, in the wrong way. The roman leader comes in from the west; Jesus comes in from the east. The east is where the sun rose, and a new kingdom was dawning in Jerusalem that day. They just didn’t know it. 

-- Pastor Wes Olds, from a sermon entitled “The Triumphal Entry,” part of a series called “Passion: Journey to the Cross” at Grace Church Cape Coral, Florida

#6337

ECHOES OF GRACE: Sharing the Good News Through SOUND BITES

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  (Romans 10:15 NIV)

In a world flooded with noise, brevity can be a bridge to eternity. A well-crafted quote -- what we call a “sound bite” -- can pierce through distraction and plant seeds of truth. For 27 years SOUND BITES Ministry has been about distilling the gospel into moments of clarity, conviction, and comfort.

Jesus often spoke in short, powerful statements. These weren’t just words -- they were invitations to transformation. When we share inspirational quotes rooted in scripture and truth, we echo that same invitation.

Each quote shared through SOUND BITES is a spark. It may ignite curiosity, stir conviction, or offer hope. Whether it’s a reminder of God’s grace, a call to faith, a reflection on redemption, or an encouragement in discipleship, these bite-sized truths can reach hearts in places sermons may never go. Think of them as modern-day parables -- short, memorable, and deeply spiritual. They’re not the whole story, but they point to the One who is.  

When you share these quotes -- by forwarding an e-mail, sharing online through social media, using them in small groups or corporate worship settings -- you’re sowing gospel seeds. Some will land on fertile soil. Some will be shared again. Some will linger in someone’s heart until the Spirit brings it to life. You’re not just sharing content. You’re creating connection. And every SOUND BITES quote is a declaration of the good news: Jesus saves, Jesus loves, Jesus lives. Jesus is the Good News!

March 29, 2026 marks the 27^th anniversary of this SOUND BITES Ministry™ in memory of our son, Dustin, who had died from a brain tumor at the age of 16 on that date the previous year (1998).

As we continue through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and beyond, let SOUND BITES quotes speak to you and then let them overflow to others everywhere. Please freely share SOUND BITES with family and friends; with school and work mates; with neighbors; and with your pastor, staff and fellow church members. We would love to hear from you. Simply send an e-mail to SOUNDBITESMinistry@gmail.com with where you live and how God is using SOUND BITES to minister to you or through you to others… echoes of grace. 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6336

RIDING ON A DONKEY

A prince is identified with privilege, rank, and special benefits, but Jesus, the Prince of Peace, comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, a symbol of lowliness. His entrance is greeted with affirmation and acclamation. There is a joyous mood in the crowd as the people anticipate the promise of the prophets before them.

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off; He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth."  (Zechariah 9:9-10 NKJV)

The promise of peace for a people plagued by war and strife was wonderful news. Perhaps now their long agony would come to an end. The promise of peace is enough to make suffering people celebrate. Do you suffer today? Sometimes the wars within are as devastating as the wars without. At some time in our lives, most of us will know the darkness of loneliness, disappointment, and despair. When the prince of peace comes to offer release, redemption, help, and hope, we are also filled with joy and the “hosannas” burst from our lips as well.

Jesus chose the way of peace in a violent world. He taught His disciples to do the same. Just for a moment Peter forgot, and because of that, one in the arresting party lost an ear. But still Jesus rebuked Peter and courageously continued His journey as the Prince of Peace on the way to His own death.  

-- Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God”

#6335

THE “I AM” OF JESUS – Part 2 of 2

John’s Gospel gives us a series of breathtaking declarations from Jesus -- statements that don’t just describe what He does, but reveal who He is. We continue today with the last four. Take time with each of these statements. Let them draw you closer to Christ.

4. “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11):  He knows your name. He leads you with tenderness. He seeks the lost. He lays down His life for you. Let His voice be the loudest in your life today.

5. “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25):  Jesus doesn’t just promise life after death -- He brings life into the dead places now. Wherever hope has faded, He speaks resurrection. Where do you need His life-giving touch?

6. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6):  Jesus is not one option among many. He is the path to the Father, the truth that sets us free, and the life that never ends. Follow Him with fresh trust today.

7. “I am the True Vine” (John 15:1):  We are not called to strive, but to abide. Fruitfulness flows from connection, not effort. What would it look like to rest in Him instead of trying to produce for Him? If you want to be fruitful, concentrate on your relationship with Jesus.

Each “I Am” is a doorway into the heart of Jesus. Each one reveals a facet of His glory. Each one invites us to trust Him more deeply. He is everything we need. He is everything our world longs for. He is the great “I Am.”

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6334

THE “I AM” OF JESUS – Part 1 of 2

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  (John 8:58)

The Gospel of John gives us a series of seven breathtaking declarations from Jesus -- statements that don’t just describe what He does, but reveal who He is. Each “I Am” pulls back the curtain on His divine identity, echoing the name God spoke to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM.”  In Jesus, the eternal God steps into human history and says, “This is who I am for you.” Take time with each statement. Let these words draw you closer to Him as we approach Holy Week.

1. “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35):  Jesus meets our deepest hunger -- not with something, but with Himself. We chase satisfaction in a thousand places, but only Christ can fill the emptiness within us. Where are you hungry today? Bring that hunger to the One who satisfies.

2. “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12):  In a world clouded by confusion, fear, and darkness, Jesus shines with truth, hope, and clarity. He doesn’t just show the way -- He is the way. Invite His light into the places where shadows still linger.

3. “I am the Gate” (John 10:7):  Jesus is the doorway into safety, rest, and abundant life. He guards, guides, and welcomes all who come to Him. Are you trying to live life out there through your own strength? Walk in through His grace instead. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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FIRST THINGS FIRST

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…  ‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…”  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”  (Matthew 5:1-2, 6:33-34, and 7:28-29 NIV)

During the height of Jesus’ popularity in Israel, crowds followed Him everywhere, hungry for a word of insight or a touch of compassion. At that time, Jesus spoke at length the words of what has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Seated on a hill, Jesus shared practical lessons based on spiritual principles relating to everyday concerns. Jesus spoke about anger, revenge, and greed; the importance of building strong relationships; and God’s provision for everyday needs, such as food and clothing.

Just like people today, the people of Jesus’ time must have struggled to put all this into perspective. They must have longed to “get their priorities straight.” Jesus’ answer was simple: Put God first and everything else will fall into place. This life principle is as powerful today as it was back then. Relationships, goals, responsibilities, and desires are constantly competing for your attention. Only by looking at them from God’s perspective can you make wise decisions on how to use your time and energy in the way that makes the most positive and effective difference.

By constantly choosing to live out your life in a way that reflects the priorities of God’s kingdom in heaven, your concerns about things that are out of your control lose their grip on your heart. Your dependence on material provisions is transformed into a deep dependence on God. That’s when you discover that whatever God provides is enough. 

-- From “100 Favorite Bible Verses”

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YOKED WITH JESUS

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28–30 NIV)

At our home in Door County, Wisconsin we have a yoke that my great-grandfather used on his farm in the late 1800’s. Seeing that yoke I have always been curious about Jesus’s use of that term in Matthew 11. There’s a reason Jesus doesn’t simply say, “Come to Me and rest.” He goes further. He says, “Take My yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls.”

A yoke is an instrument of work, not leisure. It joins two animals together so they move in the same direction, at the same pace, sharing the same load. At first glance, it seems strange -- why would Jesus offer rest by giving us a yoke?

Because His yoke is not a burden. His yoke is a relationship.

To be yoked to Christ means we no longer walk alone. We no longer pull the weight of life by ourselves. We no longer guess which direction to go or strain to keep up. When we take His yoke, we step into a life where He sets the pace, He bears the weight, and He guides the way.

When we are yoked to Him our striving becomes steady, because His strength steadies us. Our direction becomes clear, because His wisdom leads us. Our burdens become lighter, because His shoulders carry what ours cannot. Our souls find rest, not because life is easy, but because He is near.

Jesus doesn’t promise a life without burdens. He promises a life without weariness. A life where we move in step with the One who is gentle, humble, patient, and strong. A life where we learn from Him -- not by listening from afar, but by walking right beside Him.

Seeing my great-grandfather’s yoke is a good reminder to me to be yoked with Christ. And today, Jesus invites you again: Come. Take My yoke. Walk with Me. Let Me carry what you cannot.  In His presence even the heaviest loads become light.

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

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FOLLOWING JESUS

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?’”  (Matthew 16:24-26 NLT)

To follow Jesus Christ, who was betrayed, wept, bled, and died before He rose again, is to be at high risk of being taken where we had not intended to go. Eugene Peterson pinpoints the trouble with prayer: “We are often asked to respond in ways that we never intended when we first began to pray.”

It matters little where or in what century we are called to live out our Christian life. The witness of those who have gone before informs my own experience, telling me that we are often taken to places where we receive unwarranted accolades and to other places where we receive unwarranted suffering and pain. A disciple, one who chooses to be a student and follower of Jesus, is not a “self-made person” and is not on a personally designed journey… We choose to follow Jesus and then Jesus chooses where we will go. It is that simple.

The saving truth here is not that we are taken where we do not want to go, rather the saving truth is that we are not alone. There is One who leads us and who goes with us… While we may not choose the places to go, we can choose to remain with the One who sends us and there find comfort, companionship, grace, peace, and joy in Christ. 

-- Adapted from Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God”

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JESUS WEPT

It was customary in ancient Israel to bury someone on the day of death. After death, the Talmud prescribed seven days of deep mourning and thirty days of light mourning. So [after Lazarus died] Jesus shows up right in the middle of their deepest sorrow and grieves with them. John 11:35 simply says, “Jesus wept.”

It’s one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but it speaks volumes. And I’m not sure the English translation does it justice. The force of the Greek verb tense suggests that Jesus bursts into tears. This was not a measured response. Jesus literally lost it. It reveals how much Jesus loved Lazarus. It also reveals a God who sheds tears! And He doesn’t just cry over us, He collects our tears in a bottle (see Psalm 56:8).

Your tears are precious to God. Whether they are tears of joy, tears of sorrow, or tears of pain -- not one teardrop is lost on God.

If you’ve endured the type of loss Mary and Martha experienced [in losing their brother], you know that sometimes you need a shoulder to cry on. I’m grateful for those friends who seem to show up when everybody else disappears. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (see Proverbs 18:24), and His broad shoulders can bear any burden. 

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible”

#6329

A FUN-LOVING JESUS?

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,  and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”  (John 2:1-2 NIV)

Why would Jesus, on His first journey, take His followers to a party? Didn't they have work to do? Didn't He have principles to teach?  Wasn't His time limited? How could a wedding fit with His purpose on earth? Why did Jesus go to the wedding?

The answer? It's found in the second verse of John 2. “Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”  Why did they invite Him? I suppose they liked Him.

Big deal? I think so. I think it's significant that common folk in a little town enjoyed being with Jesus. I think it's noteworthy that the Almighty didn't act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn't holier-than-thou.

You just don't get the impression that His neighbors grew sick of His haughtiness and asked, “Well, who do you think made you God?”

His faith made Him likable, not detestable. Would that ours would do the same!

May I state an opinion that may raise an eyebrow? May I tell you why I think Jesus went to the wedding? I think He went to the wedding to -- now hold on, hear me out, let me say it before you heat the tar and pluck the feathers -- I think Jesus went to the wedding to have fun.

Maybe these thoughts catch you by surprise. They do me. It's been awhile since I pegged Jesus as a party-lover. But He was. His foes accused Him of eating too much, drinking too much, and hanging out with the wrong people! (See Mattew 11:19.) I must confess: It's been awhile since I've been accused of having too much fun. How about you?

We used to be good at it. What has happened to us? What happened to clean joy and loud laughter? Is it our neckties that choke us? Is it our diplomas that dignify us? Is it the pew that stiffens us?

Jesus took time for a party… shouldn't we?

 -- Max Lucado in “When God Whispers Your Name”

#6328

IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS

For many years during my ministry at the two churches I served -- in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and in Green Bay, Wisconsin – we produced Lenten devotional booklets for daily meditation during the forty days leading up to Easter. We would come up with a theme each year, members of the church would be invited to write a personal story, and I would desktop publish them for distribution to the congregation. I recently came across a file on my computer from 2005 containing that season’s authors who wrote on the theme “It’s All About Jesus.” I realized that a number of those faithful believers were now in the church eternal, and for many of them I had the honor of officiating at their memorial service. While they are no longer here on earth, their words of personal witness and spiritual wisdom live on. Such is the case with the following devotional.

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

 

“THE MISSING PIECE” by Gerry Christoph (1931–2019)

I knew a lot about Jesus.  I attended Sunday School and church as a child.  I continued regular church attendance and Bible studies as an adult.  Church activities and Christian outreach were a part of my life.

I also had time and opportunity to participate in many fun activities, such as golf, tennis, bowling, and exercise classes.

In my early 40's I got to a point where my life was just the way I had always wanted it to be with a loving family, many friends, and many activities.

Why was I restless?  Why did I feel insecure?  It seemed like all my life I added new pieces so my life would feel complete.  I was still missing one piece.  I had a feeling it had something to do with God.  All my life I had a longing to know Him better.

The obvious thing to do was to read and pray and search.  After six months, I had less faith than when I started.  After deciding to abandon my search, I decided to pray one more time.  My prayer went something like this, "God, I've searched and searched for You and I can't find You."  Then I paused because I didn't know what to pray next.  To my amazement, God gave me the words to continue.  "I'm not as good as I want to be, and I'm certainly not as good as I want You to think I am, but if You will take my faults, I want You to be Lord of my life."  It was at that moment of being completely honest with God and completely relinquishing my life to Him that He filled every pore of my being with His love.  I had never felt so undeserving, but I had never felt so loved.  I knew I would never doubt again.  I knew I would never be the same again.  Jesus had come into my life when I prayed that prayer.  Jesus is the missing piece that has completed my life's picture.  It really is ALL ABOUT JESUS!  I praise His Holy Name.

#6327

RESURRECTION FAITH

“On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days… ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give You whatever you ask.’”  (John 11:17, 21 NIV)

This one statement reveals two types of faith.

The first is what I call preventative faith… Preventative faith believes God can keep things from happening. So we pray for traveling mercies or a hedge of protection around our children. And while there is nothing wrong with that, there is a second dimension of faith that believes God can actually undo what’s been done. I call it resurrection faith. It’s a faith that refuses to put periods at the end of disappointments because God can make your impossible possible. Even when the application is denied or the adoption falls through or the business goes bankrupt, don’t put a period there…

What needs to die in your life so that it can be resurrected? So that God can reveal more of His power? So that God gets all the glory? You need to bury it. Then if it’s resurrected, you know God did it.

It takes courage to end an unhealthy dating relationship, but you won’t find Mr. Right as long as you are dating Mr. Wrong. It takes courage to quit a job, but it might be the difference between making a living and making a life. It takes courage to change majors, but it’s better to fail at something you love than succeed at something you hate. Maybe you need to bury the relationship, bury the job, or bury the major. Then you need to wait for Jesus to show up.

“Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”  (John 11:43-44 NIV)

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible”

#6326

FAITH BELIEVES, TRUST RESTS – Part 2 of 2

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1) “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”  (Psalm 56:3)

Faith and trust are like two sides of the same coin, yet they move differently in the life of a believer.

Faith is what we believe about God -- His character, His promises, His power. Faith says, “God can.” It is the conviction that He is who He says He is, even when our eyes may see nothing but uncertainty.

Trust, however, is what we do with that belief. Trust says, “Because God can, I will rest in Him.” Trust is faith lived out -- faith applied to real fears, real delays, real disappointments, real unknowns.

Faith is the foundation. Trust is the follow-through. Faith is the seed. Trust is the fruit. Faith says, “I believe God will lead me.”  Trust says, “So I will take the next step, even if I can’t see the path.”

Jesus invites us into both. He calls us to believe in Him and then to place the full weight of our lives into His hands.

Where is God inviting you not just to believe in Him, but to trust Him -- practically, personally, completely -- today?

Lord, deepen my faith so that my trust becomes steady and strong. Teach me not only to believe Your promises but to fully rest in them. Help me place every fear, every plan, and every step into Your faithful hands. Amen.

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6325

FAITH BELIEVES, TRUST RESTS – Part 1 of 2

What is faith? John Patten (1824 -1907) traveled to New Hebrides (a group of islands in the Southwest Pacific) to tell the tribal people about Jesus. The islanders were cannibals and his life was in constant danger. Patten decided to work on a translation of John’s Gospel, but found that there was no word in their language for “belief” or “trust.” Nobody trusted anybody else.

Eventually, Patten hit upon the way to find the word he was looking for. One day, when his native servant came in, Patten sat back in his chair, raised both feet off the floor, and asked, “What am I doing now?” In reply, the servant used a word which means “to lean your whole weight upon.” This was the expression Patten used. Faith is leaning our whole weight upon Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross.

It all starts with God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  [As a result of our sin,] we all deserve to “perish.” God, in His love for us, saw the mess we were in and gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for us. As a result of His death, everlasting life is offered to all who believe. 

-- Nicky Gumbel in Alpha’s “Questions of Life: A Practical Introduction to the Christian Faith”

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BLIND OBEDIENCE

“’Go,’ Jesus told the blind man, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (this word means ‘Sent’). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”  (John 9:7 NIV)

Like many of the miracles Jesus performed, this one comes with a set of instructions. Jesus tells the blind man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. While we don’t know the exact distance he traveled to get to the pool, it was a hike…

So why would Jesus send this blind man on a scavenger hunt? Why not just heal him on the spot? A trip to the Pool of Siloam seems unnecessary, doesn’t it?

I recently heard a story by an Episcopal bishop named William Frey. As a young man, he volunteered to tutor a student who was blind. The student had lost his sight at the age of thirteen in a chemical explosion. He felt like his life was over. The only thing greater than his self-pity was his hatred toward God. For six months after the accident, all he did was feel sorry for himself. Then one day his father said, “John, winter’s coming and the storm windows need to be up – that’s your job. I want those hung by the time I get back this evening or else!” Then he pretended to walk out of the room, slamming the door. John got good and angry! In fact, he was so angry that he decided to do it. He thought, “When I fall, they’ll have a blind and paralyzed son!” But John didn’t fall. He discovered that he was capable of doing more than he realized. Even with blind eyes. Only after completing the job did he discover that his dad was never more than five feet away. He shadowed his son to make sure he was safe, but he knew that helplessness was a far worse curse than blindness.

I’m not entirely sure why Jesus had this blind man go and wash, but I’m guessing that he had lived a relatively helpless life. He depended upon everybody for everything! So Jesus didn’t just heal his blind eyes. He restored his dignity by rebuking helplessness… And that’s one secret to experiencing the miraculous: most miracles require an act of blind obedience. 

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible”

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THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

“One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy.’”  (Mark 1:9-11 NLT)

In the Greek language, Mark’s Gospel uses strong words to describe what happened when Jesus was baptized. The translators of the New Living Translation of the Bible describe the event this way: “He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him.” Mark is the only Gospel writer to use a Greek word that doesn’t just mean “open” but “tear.” Mark wants us to know that God “ripped open” heaven and sent His Spirit to descend upon Jesus. This was a cosmic event of epic proportions even though it was happening in nowhere Israel under the ministry of an insignificant, self-appointed prophet named John. Things would be different in the universe after this event, according to Mark.

What happens next defends Mark’s position. The ancient Rabbi’s taught that when God speaks, “the daughter of His voice,” or “the echo of His voice,” is heard. But Mark does not record God’s voice in this way. Instead, Mark says that the very voice of Jesus’ heavenly Father spoke words of approval over His Son. “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy.”  John’s baptism of Jesus serves as a declaration to the world across time that Jesus was and is the Son of God.  

-- Jorge Acevedo in “Everybody Needs Some Cave Time: Meeting God in Dark Places”

#6322

CALLED TO FELLOWSHIP

We are called to fellowship with one another. The Greek word koinonia means “having in common” or “sharing” [--  sharing possessions, sharing experiences, sharing life, sharing one’s self with another.] It is the word used for the marital relationship, the most intimate between human beings. Our fellowship is with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – 1 John 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14) and with one another (1 John 1:7). Christian fellowship cuts across race, color, education, background, and every other cultural barrier. There is a level of friendship in the church that I have certainly never experienced outside the church.

John Wesley said, “The New Testament knows nothing of solitary religion.” We are called to fellowship with one another. It is not an optional extra. There are two things we simply cannot do alone. We cannot marry alone and we cannot be a Christian alone. Professor C.E.B. Cranfield put it like this: “The freelance Christian… is simply a contradiction in terms.”

The writer of Hebrews urges his readers, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25a NIV). Often Christians lose their love for the Lord and their enthusiasm for their faith because they neglect [biblical] fellowship. 

– Adapted from Nicky Gumbel in Alpha’s “Questions of Life: A Practical Introduction to the Christian Faith”

#6321

GROWING AND MATURING

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  (Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV)

I like the story of the little boy who fell out of bed. When his Mom asked him what happened, he answered, “I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”

Easy to do the same with our faith. It’s tempting just to stay where we got in and never move.

Pick a time in the not-too-distant past. A year or two ago. Now ask yourself a few questions. How does your prayer life today compare with then? How about your giving? Have both the amount and the joy increased? What about your church loyalty? Can you tell you’ve grown? And Bible study? Are you learning to learn?

There they are. Four habits worth having. Isn’t it good to know that some habits are good for you? Make them a part of your day and grow. Don’t make the mistake of the little boy. Don’t stay too close to where you got in. It’s risky resting on the edge.

Growth is the goal of the Christian. Maturity is mandatory. 

-- Max Lucado in “When God Whispers Your Name”

#6320

WORRY VS. MEDITATION

Scripture talks about meditating on God’s Word. The psalmist says that godly persons meditate on the Word “day and night” (Psalm 1:2). How much is that?

You may feel that meditation is something only monks and mystics can do. So let me ask you, do you know how to worry? If you can worry, you can meditate. To meditate merely means to think about something over and over. Let it simmer in your mind. Reflect on it from different angles until it becomes part of you…

A friend recently sent me a card that read, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

When I think about that single statement, I am reminded that…

• GOD is the source of all hope.
• He is even now seeking to fill my body with not just joy and peace, but ALL joy and peace.
• His desire is that I should not just contain hope, but OVERFLOW with hope.
• This process is dependent not on my power, but the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT at work in me.

My mind is having different thoughts than it would be if I were [doomscrolling social media.] With my mind fixed on God, I am ready [for whatever lies ahead today.]  

-- Adapted from John Ortberg in “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat”

#6319